Studies of a Horse in Profile

Studies of a Horse in Profile by Eugène Delacroix, executed between 1823 and 1830, is a preparatory drawing demonstrating the artist's intensive study of animal anatomy. The piece was rendered using graphite on gray-beige wove paper, typical of the materials Delacroix utilized for quick observation and detailed investigation. The drawing style suggests that this sheet was likely pulled from a working sketchbook, where the artist captured multiple perspectives of the horse’s head and neck. Delacroix focused intensely on the muscular structure and subtle bone definitions, employing careful lines and varying pressure to create texture and depth despite the monochromatic medium.

The subject of horses was critical to the Romantic movement, allowing Delacroix to explore themes of movement, vitality, and untamed power, elements he frequently integrated into his major oil paintings and grand historical compositions. Unlike the energetic chaos often found in his completed works, this study emphasizes precision and quiet observation. This focused attention on anatomical accuracy was essential for Delacroix’s larger studio practice, ensuring the dynamic poses in his narrative works remained credible and forceful.

This historically significant drawing is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it contributes to The Met’s distinguished collection of 19th-century French graphic arts. High-quality prints of this work are frequently studied by historians and artists, reflecting its importance in understanding the foundational techniques of the Romantic master. As a key example of the artist’s process, the work illustrates the essential role of preliminary drawing in the creation of enduring masterworks, sometimes even falling into the public domain and becoming widely accessible for scholarship.