Studies of a Lion and a Female Nude (recto); Figure Studies (verso)

Studies of a Lion and a Female Nude (recto); Figure Studies (verso) by Eugène Delacroix is a powerful double-sided drawing created during the late 1830s and 1840s (1839-1849). The primary side (recto) utilizes pen and rich brown ink on heavy laid paper, demonstrating Delacroix's dynamic and expressive drawing style, while the reverse (verso) features preliminary Figure Studies executed rapidly in graphite. This classification as an independent drawing emphasizes the artist's dedicated exploration of form and movement, separate from immediate commissions.

The recto composition juxtaposes two central subjects often explored by Delacroix: the untamed vitality of the lion and the idealized form of the female nude. Delacroix, a leading figure of the French Romantic movement, frequently turned to animal subjects, drawing upon firsthand studies and observations to capture the power and tension of the magnificent beast. The energetic ink strokes defining the lion’s form convey the muscle and alertness of the creature. Similarly, the studies of female nudes on both sides reflect the period's academic emphasis on anatomical correctness combined with the expressive freedom characteristic of Romantic draftsmen.

These works, whether the artist intended them for future prints or solely for private practice, offer profound insight into his working methodology. Dated precisely during a prolific decade, this sheet encapsulates Delacroix's enduring fascination with dramatic contrasts-between human and animal, light and shadow, and stillness and motion. As a unique example of the artist's draftsmanship, the drawing currently resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, serving as a critical resource for understanding the graphic output of one of the 19th century's most influential artists.