Wild Horse Felled by a Tiger

Wild Horse Felled by a Tiger is a powerful drawing created by Eugène Delacroix in 1828. Executed masterfully in watercolor and gouache over underlying pen and ink, with delicate touches of gum arabic, this work exemplifies the artist's enduring fascination with dramatic animal combat and exotic violence. Delacroix, the central figure of the French Romantic movement, frequently employed animal subjects to explore primal emotions and dynamic energy, themes central to his wider historical and literary compositions.

The scene captures the moment of maximal struggle, where a vigorously rendered tiger brings down a terrified wild horse. Delacroix’s masterful use of mixed media creates a strong sense of immediacy; the underlying pen lines swiftly establish the anatomy and kinetic movement, while the layered watercolor and opaque gouache provide rich texture and vibrant color contrasts. The application of gum arabic adds a distinct gloss and depth to specific areas, enhancing the dramatic impact of the visceral struggle.

This motif of savage nature was highly characteristic of Romanticism, reflecting a departure from Neoclassical restraint and echoing Baroque precedents set by masters like Rubens. Although classified technically as a drawing, the complexity and saturation elevate Wild Horse Felled by a Tiger to the status of a finished cabinet picture. The original work is a crucial piece in the extensive Delacroix holdings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of the lasting cultural significance of Delacroix, high-quality prints of this work are frequently made available through public domain initiatives and art reference archives, allowing broad access to the genius of this 19th-century master.