
Christ on the Cross
Eugène Delacroix, c. 1848
What you see
The cross runs down the center from top to bottom, its arms nearly reaching the edges of the picture. Christ hangs with his arms outstretched and his head tilted to one side, ringed by a golden halo. He wears only a white cloth at the waist. A small dark sign is visible above, and the foot of the cross fades into shadow below.
Behind the body, a greenish gray light opens up in the darkness and makes the pale skin stand out. The brushstrokes are loose and visible, especially in the background. Seek out the tiny glints of the halo, painted as short rays, and the faint touch of red at his side.
About Eugène Delacroix
Eugène Delacroix was the great painter of French Romanticism: he loved scenes full of movement, emotion and intense colour. He travelled to Morocco and Algeria, and the light of those countries transformed his palette. His free brushwork later inspired the Impressionists.
More by Eugène Delacroix
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