Portrait of a Woman with Eyes Lowered; Two Sketches of Lions

Portrait of a Woman with Eyes Lowered; Two Sketches of Lions by Eugène Delacroix, executed in 1821, offers a revealing glimpse into the working process of the pivotal figure in French Romanticism. Created early in his career, this highly detailed work is classified as a drawing, rendered using precise lines of pen and iron gall ink. This medium was standard for preparatory studies of the period, providing permanent, sharp outlines necessary for capturing rapid ideas.

The sheet is dynamically composed, featuring two seemingly unrelated subjects that foreshadow Delacroix’s lifelong artistic interests. The primary image is the thoughtfully rendered portrait of a woman whose downturned gaze evokes a sense of meditative quietude or melancholy. The sensitive shading and definition of her face reveal the artist’s skill in capturing psychological depth, a hallmark of his best portraiture.

Sharing the page are two vigorous, quick sketches of lions, a motif that would become central to Delacroix’s mature output, symbolizing untamed nature, power, and the exoticism associated with Orientalist themes. These energetic depictions demonstrate his dedication to mastering animal anatomy alongside human form. The inclusion of these disparate subjects on a single sheet highlights the artist’s habit of using drawings as working journals, capturing ideas simultaneously regardless of their intended application.

This intimate piece provides critical insight into the foundation of Delacroix’s dramatic narrative style. As an important example of French draftsmanship from the Romantic era, the work is currently preserved in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as an essential reference for scholars studying the development of the master’s technique.