Saada, the Wife of Abraham Ben-Chimol, and Préciada, One of Their Daughters

Saada, the Wife of Abraham Ben-Chimol, and Préciada, One of Their Daughters by Eugène Delacroix, created in 1832, is a remarkable drawing executed in watercolor over graphite on wove paper. This piece stems from the artist's pivotal journey to North Africa that year, during which he meticulously documented the people, costumes, and settings he encountered. Delacroix’s travel to Morocco and Algeria profoundly influenced his career, providing the foundation for his celebrated Romantic Orientalist compositions.

The work offers an intimate, highly specific portrait of two women: Saada, the matriarch, and her daughter, Préciada. Delacroix was deeply interested in recording the domestic life and traditional clothing of the Jewish communities he visited in the region. Unlike some of his later, highly dramatic compositions based on these travels, this drawing functions primarily as a detailed study of costume and character. It captures the serene demeanor and specific features of the sitters, highlighting their jewelry, distinct local garments, and the nuanced colors of the textiles.

Classified as a drawing, this sensitive study demonstrates Delacroix's growing mastery of watercolor, capturing tone and shadow quickly while maintaining the immediacy of the graphite sketch underneath. Drawings such as this served as essential visual source material that Delacroix would later rely upon for large-scale oil paintings produced back in his Parisian studio. This specific example of Saada, the Wife of Abraham Ben-Chimol, and Préciada, One of Their Daughters is currently held within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of the age and enduring artistic relevance of this key work of Orientalist documentation, high-quality archival prints are often sought after, allowing broader access to the piece through public domain initiatives.