Young Clifford Finding the Body of his Father, from "L'Artiste"

Young Clifford Finding the Body of his Father, from "L'Artiste" by Eugène Delacroix is a powerful lithograph created in 1834. This print represents the third and final state of the work, demonstrating the artist's refined mastery of black and white media. Delacroix contributed this dramatic scene to the influential Parisian journal L'Artiste, an important vehicle for disseminating Romantic expression across Europe.

The subject matter, likely drawn from historical conflicts or literary sources regarding the Wars of the Roses, centers on the raw emotion of discovery. The composition captures the immediate aftermath of a violent confrontation, focusing on the despair of the young man, Clifford, as he kneels beside the lifeless form of his father. Delacroix uses deep, expressive shadows and dramatic chiaroscuro to emphasize the contrast between the stillness of death and the son's intense grief.

The narrative details highlight the brutality of the conflict; a fallen sword lies near the body, signifying the manner of the father's death. In the background, a large animal, presumably a horse associated with the battle, adds atmosphere to the desolate setting. This carefully rendered lithograph underscores Delacroix’s skill in capturing highly emotional moments, a hallmark of French Romanticism. Classified as a significant example of 19th-century French prints, this work resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.