The Giaour on Horseback (recto); Study of a Woman with Head and Arms Thrown Back, and Study of the Head of an Old Man (verso)

The drawing The Giaour on Horseback (recto); Study of a Woman with Head and Arms Thrown Back, and Study of the Head of an Old Man (verso), executed by Eugène Delacroix between 1824 and 1826, is a significant example of Romantic draftsmanship centered on literary inspiration. The recto features a striking depiction of the Giaour, the exiled protagonist of Lord Byron’s 1813 narrative poem, a key text influencing the burgeoning Orientalist movement in French art. The drawing captures the dramatic relationship between Men and Horses, characteristic of Delacroix’s early focus on passion and kinetic energy.

The artist utilized pen and iron gall ink, supplemented by brush and brown wash applied over a preliminary graphite sketch, a technique that gives the central figure depth and robust modeling. The use of wash enhances the drama, concentrating shadow and light essential to the Byronic narrative.

The verso provides insight into Delacroix's exploratory process, featuring two quick, preparatory studies: a Study of a Woman with Head and Arms Thrown Back and a detailed Study of the Head of an Old Man. These expressive sketches underscore Delacroix’s commitment to capturing immediate human emotion and anatomical complexity, even while developing compositions for his major narrative works. This piece serves a dual function, documenting both high literary ambition and rigorous academic practice. Classified as a drawing, this pivotal work from Delacroix's formative period remains a key component of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As this work is now considered part of the public domain, high-quality digital prints and reproductions are widely available for enthusiasts and students studying the development of French Romanticism.