The Tribute Money

The Tribute Money is a preparatory drawing executed by Eugène Delacroix in 1843. This work, rendered in graphite on tracing paper and subsequently laid down, offers valuable insight into the planning stages of the Romantic master's compositions. Delacroix, a foremost figure in 19th-century French art, often utilized precise sketches like this to study pose, light, and narrative flow before committing to paint on canvas. The use of tracing paper, a common technique for refinement, suggests the artist was either transferring or making adjustments to an earlier concept while focusing intensely on the structural integrity of the figures.

The detailed graphite sketch depicts a cluster of men and boys gathered around a central focus. The figures’ gestures and concentration draw the viewer’s eye toward the interaction involving a fish, referencing the biblical episode wherein Saint Peter retrieves a coin from a fish's mouth to pay the temple tax. Even in the absence of color and heavy shading, the drawing successfully conveys the dynamism and emotional tension characteristic of Delacroix’s finished historical works. The masterful rendering of the figures confirms his enduring skill in draftsmanship throughout his career.

This significant preparatory study of The Tribute Money is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it complements the institution's comprehensive holdings of 19th-century European drawings. Due to its historical importance and collection status, high-quality prints and reproductions of this drawing are commonly made available, often entering the public domain, allowing global accessibility for scholarly research and artistic appreciation.