Study, The Barque Of Dante

Eugène Delacroix, an emblematic figure of French Romanticism, offers us with The Barque of Dante a powerful and evocative work. This painting, produced in 1822, marks the artist's spectacular entry onto the artistic scene and remains an essential reference today. The artist was inspired by Dante Alighieri's famous poem, The Divine Comedy. More precisely, he depicted an episode from Canto VIII of Inferno where Dante and Virgil, guided by Phlegyas' boat, cross the Styx to reach the City of Dite. The painting is a true scene of chaos. The damned, with tortured faces, cling desperately to the boat, while Dante and Virgil, imposing figures, seem indifferent to the supplications. Delacroix uses contrasting light, creating a dark and oppressive atmosphere that reinforces the feeling of despair while his palette of brighter colors highlights the main characters. Each character is unique, with their own expression and suffering. This is part of the Romantic movement that emphasizes individuality and the expression of personal feelings. Dante's Barque is a complex work that can be interpreted in different ways. It can be seen as an allegory of the human condition, a representation of the struggle between good and evil, or a reflection on death and the afterlife. Created in a context marked by the political and social upheavals of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, the painting was acquired by the French State as soon as it was presented at the Salon of 1822, despite some criticism. Having influenced many artists, this masterpiece is now kept at the Louvre Museum. Our study, close to the style and passion of the master, may have been made by one of his authentic disciples: Gustave de Lassalle-Borde. This artist took Delacroix's classes and made copies of his works. Indeed, Lassalle-Borde was one of the rare students to take Delacroix's classes and to be directly influenced by his flamboyant style, collaborating with him on several major projects (the Chamber of Deputies at the Palais-Bourbon from 1843 to 1847 and the Chamber of Peers (now the Senate) at the Palais du Luxembourg from 1842 to 1847).