"The Death of Sardanapalus" by Eugène Delacroix

Delacroix was a Romanticist. Romanticism is essentially the opposite of Neoclassicism, which I discussed with "Automedon with the Horses of Achilles". While Neoclassicism was all about order and reason, Romanticism was all about emotion. These styles were popular at the same time, so characteristics of both can be found in many works. This piece by Delacroix tends to be more Romantic. One of the characteristics of Romanticism is a touch of the exotic, which essentially means there is something in the painting that is not European. This piece is about an Assyrian ruler, Sardanapalus, so the story of the painting itself is exotic. In the story, Sardanapalus faces a defeat in battle and, rather than go through with an embarrassing defeat, he orders all of his possessions to be burned, including even his slaves and himself. The painting depicts the moments that follow that order; the guards are killing the prostitutes and slaves, destroying Sardanapalus’ belongings while Sardanapalus lounges on his bed. Violence is also a reoccurring theme in Romantic work, and this piece has its fair share of it. Emotion is central to Romantic work. Delacroix expresses emotion through the servants screaming out in pain as well as the quick brushwork. Delacroix painted the piece with emotion, so the brushwork is evident. The audience can empathize with the women, feeling their panic. One reason for this is that one woman is splayed across the bed. Rich colors are a component of Romanticism as well. This piece has strong reds which allude to the blood that was spilled on this day. Overall, “The Death of Sardanapalus” is a masterpiece of Romantic painting. Romanticism led to impressionism because of its looser brushwork and emphasis on emotion. In this way, Romanticism helped stimulate the first artists to branch off from tradition. I love seeing the progression from early art to Modern art, and Romanticism is an important step on that journey.