Sketchbook with views of Tours, France and its environs

The Sketchbook with views of Tours, France and its environs is a vital preparatory work created by Eugène Delacroix between 1828 and 1829. Executed primarily in graphite and watercolor on wove paper, this classification of drawing offers a personal and often rapid glimpse into the artist’s direct observations during his travels through the French countryside. This period marked a crucial phase in Delacroix's development, as he solidified his reputation as the foremost figure of the French Romantic movement. The intimate nature of the sketchbook format allowed Delacroix a freedom of expression often reserved for his personal studies, differing significantly from the tightly controlled compositions required for his large-scale oil paintings.

While many sheets capture architectural views and landscapes around Tours, Delacroix utilized the pages for disparate studies as well, reflecting his eclectic interests. Some sections contain preliminary sketches dedicated to capturing the muscular intensity and primal posture of great cats, such as lions. Delacroix frequently returned to the theme of exotic animals throughout his career, viewing them as powerful symbols of drama and untamed nature, an interest that would culminate in his renowned journey to North Africa a few years later.

The work’s technique, relying on quick, defining graphite contours augmented by selective washes of watercolor, demonstrates Delacroix’s exceptional ability to document impressions swiftly and efficiently. Today, this essential piece of preparatory drawing resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its compositions are frequently studied via high-quality prints, providing key insight into the celebrated artist’s process and bridging his preliminary fieldwork with his subsequent grand historical canvases.