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Between the years of 1827 through to 1832 Eugène Delacroix
seemed to produce one masterpiece after another and in 1833 he was commissioned to paint a
group of murals for the King's chamber at the Palais Bourbon and from then on he continued
to do this type of painting until 1861, which even included panels for the Louvre and for the Museum of History at
Versailles.
All of the decors that this incredible artist produced are still within their original
sites except for a ceiling sketch that is now on show in the Musée Carnavalet, but unfortunately his health
suffered badly through this type of architectural painting work, as it involved long
hours, often in awkward positions on scaffolding in draughty buildings and he eventually
died on 13th August 1863 and he is buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Eugène Delacroix produced over 800 paintings, numerous drawings, murals and other works
during his career and is counted as being one of the great and influential French
painters. He was often classified as an artist of the Romantic school, his fantastic
use of colour has been a great influence to many impressionist painters and even some more
modern artists like Pablo Picasso and through his
dedication to his passion and career the museum eventually came about for everyone to be
able to enjoy and appreciate this great artist.
The museum is situated within the home and workshop of Eugène Delacroix where he resided
from December 1857 through to when he died in August 1863 and the French State purchased
the apartment in 1954 so that it could be turned into the Musée National Eugène
Delacroix and it became a national museum in 1971.
The museum occupies the studio, garden and apartment where Eugène Delacroix worked and
resided, so that he could be close to Saint-Sulpice church where he had been commissioned
to decorate Saint-Anges chapel. And you will get the feeling from going through a
large arch in the courtyard to the studio that this is from a well established gentleman,
where you will be able to view watercolours and oil paintings, drawings, sketches and
other works, his painting tools, plus lots of his personnel belongings.
In 1992 part of an apartment adjoining the rooms occupied by the painter was purchased and
the museum then managed to have a new public area and an information room and eventually
in 1999, the garden was renovated and features different trees that Eugène Delacroix
loved.
The personal belongings within the museum even include memento's from his trips abroad
along with letters to and from his contemporaries and even lithographs plus much of his
early work.
Group tours can be provided upon request and the library and documentation centre, which
includes more than 1,000 works and is still expanding is also open to researchers and
students on a Monday, Thursday and Friday by prior arrangement through contacting the
museum on Tel 1 44 41 86.
The museum is always closed on a Tuesday and on national holidays but is open from 9.30am
to 5pm from Wednesday through to Sunday.
Address & Contact Details:
Musée National Eugène Delacroix
6 Rue de Furstenberg
75006
Paris
Telephone: 1 44 41 86 50
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