The Turkish Rider

The Turkish Rider by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863, is a definitive example of the French Romantic master’s lifelong fascination with Orientalism and exotic subject matter. Created over a long period between 1829 and 1839, the work is classified as a painting, despite being executed primarily in sophisticated mixed media on paper. Delacroix employed gouache and watercolor on cream wove paper, utilizing techniques like scraping to manipulate the paint surface and selectively applying gum-varnish to enhance the luminosity and depth of the colors. This intricate technical layering allowed the artist to achieve the rich saturation typically associated with oil painting.

Delacroix’s interest in Near Eastern subjects was solidified by his influential trip to North Africa in 1832. This piece depicts a dynamic figure mounted on horseback, rendered with the dramatic handling of light and shadow characteristic of the Romantic movement. The intense focus on movement and detailed costume reflects the aesthetic ambitions of the period, which prioritized emotional intensity and narrative excitement over classical constraints. The classification as a painting, despite the paper support, underscores the complex technical ambition Delacroix brought to his compositions, elevating works on paper beyond mere preparatory studies.

Currently residing in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, this work is essential for understanding the pivotal role Delacroix played in 19th-century French art. The extended period of creation, 1829 to 1839, suggests the artist’s prolonged study and refinement of the motif. As a significant artifact of the Romantic era, the image is often referenced in scholarly texts, and high-quality prints of this important Delacroix piece are frequently made available through various institutional and public domain collections, extending the reach of the French master’s vision.