Delacroix's First Masterpiece, The Barque of Dante, at the Louvre
At the age of 22, Eugène Delacroix unveiled The Barque of Dante at the French Salon in 1822. The French government acquired this artwork, which is currently displayed in the Louvre. The painting illustrates Canto VIII of Dante's Inferno, featuring Dante and Virgil navigating the Styx while anguished souls assault their vessel. Virgil comforts a terrified Dante, alongside Phlegyas, the ferryman. The atmosphere is suffocating, emphasizing the twisted, expressive figures that embody the fifth circle of Hell, influenced by Théodore Géricault's The Raft of the Medusa. This piece merges Neoclassical and Romantic elements, highlighting Delacroix's emotive approach, and he later emerged as a prominent figure in the French Romantic movement.
Key facts
- Eugène Delacroix presented The Barque of Dante at the French Salon in 1822 at the age of 22.
- The painting was met with great success and bought by the French government.
- It hangs today in the Louvre in Paris, France.
- The scene depicts Canto VIII of Dante's Inferno, with Dante and Virgil crossing the river Styx.
- Phlegyas serves as the boatman, and tormented souls attack the boat.
- The fifth circle of Hell, devoted to the sin of anger, is the setting for the souls.
- Théodore Géricault's The Raft of the Medusa, the first true masterpiece of French Romanticism, was the main inspiration for the figures.
- The composition balances Neoclassical axes with Romantic emotion and vigorous coloring, including the city of Dis rendered in yellows, reds, and browns.
Entities
Artists
- Eugène Delacroix
- Dante
- Virgil
- Phlegyas
- Beatrice
- Théodore Géricault
Institutions
- Louvre
- French Salon
- French government
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Styx
- Dis
- Hell
- Heaven