As a central figure in the rise of French Romanticism in the early 1800s, Eugène Delacroix was a renowned as a painter and lithographer and well-known for his expressive use of brushstrokes, color, and movement—all of which deeply impacted the Impressionists later in the century. Charles Baudelaire astutely captued his essence when he wrote that "Delacroix was passionately in love with passion, but coldly determined to express passion as clearly as possible." Below, we've chosen some of our favorite quips from this pithy painter from Phaidon'sArt Is the Highest Form of Hope, a collection of clever, irreverent, and earnest quotes from art's most storied and legendary figures. Would-be artists would do well to commit these bon mots to memory—history has proven that ol' Eugene knows what he's talking about.
1. On the path to happiness
Liberty Leading the People, 1830
"Cultivate a well-ordered mind, it’s your only road to happiness; and to reach it, be orderly in everything, even in the smallest details." – Eugène Delacroix, April 15, 1823, entry, in The Journal of Eugène Delacroix, 3rd. ed., ed. Hubert Wellington (London: Phaidon Press, 1995).
2. On finding balance
Combat de chevaliers dans la campagne, 1824
"The beautiful implies a combination of many different qualities. Strength alone, without elegance, etc., is not beauty. In a single word, the broadest definition would be Harmony." – Eugène Delacroix, Undated entry, 1854, The Journal of Eugène Delacroix.
3. On boring paintings
Orphan Girl at the Cemetery, 1823 - 1824
"Remember that gray is the enemy of all painting." – Eugène Delacroix, Undated entry, 1852, The Journal of Eugène Delacroix.
4. On finishing touches
Shipwreck on the Coast, 1862
"One always has to spoil a picture a little in order to finish it." – Eugène Delacroix, April 13, 1853, entry, in The Journal of Eugène Delacroix.
5. On unoriginality
Death of Sardanapalus, 1844
"The new is very old; you might even say that it is the oldest thing of all." – Eugène Delacroix, June 8, 1850, entry, in The Journal of Eugène Delacroix.
6. On indulgence
Still Life With Lobsters, 1826 - 1827
"I think my system of having only one meal a day certainly suits me much better." – Eugène Delacroix, October 18, 1852, entry, in The Journal of Eugène Delacroix.
7. On obsessions
Horse Frightened by Lightning, 1825 - 1829
"I really must settle down seriously to drawing horses. I shall go to some stable or other every morning; I shall go to bed early, and get up early as well." – Eugène Delacroix, April 15, 1823, entry, in The Journal of Eugène Delacroix.
8. On the secret to his success
The Sea from the Heights of Dieppe, 1852
"Use short, small brushes." – Eugène Delacroix, April 1, 1824, entry, in The Journal of Eugène Delacroix.
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