Studies of Horses

Studies of Horses by Eugène Delacroix is an intimate and detailed drawing executed in graphite with subtle traces of brown ink upon laid paper. Dating from the artist’s prolific career (1798-1863), this piece reflects Delacroix’s enduring fascination with and commitment to accurately depicting animal movement and anatomy. As a central figure of the Romantic movement, Delacroix often utilized studies like this to master the dynamism required for his monumental oil paintings, particularly those featuring dramatic battles or historical scenes where powerful horses played a critical role. The classification as a drawing emphasizes its function as a preparatory or exploratory work rather than a finished composition intended for immediate exhibition.

Delacroix’s approach to drawing was highly expressive, using rapid but controlled lines to capture the energy of his subjects. Here, the artist employs varied pressure in the graphite to define muscle structure and silhouette, while the hint of brown ink adds slight shading or emphasis to the outlines of the equine forms. These intensive visual investigations were fundamental to Delacroix's working method, enabling him to translate fleeting observations into permanent artistic representations. This important preparatory drawing is housed within the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving a key element of the Romantic master's process. Given the age and historical significance of the work, high-resolution digitized images and prints of this study are frequently made available through public domain initiatives, allowing broader scholarly access to Delacroix's graphic output.