Delacroix: A Modern Maverick

About the Class

A rebel and 19th-century celebrity, Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863) challenged the artistic conventions of his time. With bold color, energetic brushwork, and dynamic compositions, he brought new intensity to history scenes, literary subjects, and exotic themes. A leader of Romanticism, with a penchant for color theory, Delacroix also served as an audacious counterpoint to the idealized classicism of his contemporary rival, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780–1867).

In this four-session online course, we’ll explore Delacroix’s groundbreaking career through his major works, including Liberty Leading the People, and consider his artistic rivalry with Ingres, whose controlled style contrasted with Delacroix’s approach.

Together, we’ll trace Delacroix’s influence on later artists, from Gustave Courbet to Paul Cézanne, and consider how his experiments with color and technique expanded the possibilities of modern art.

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

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Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

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What Our Students Say

“The instructor was not only knowledgeable but so accessible, and such an inviting presence. She provided great reading to supplement the course.” —Mary Cassatt: Art, Identity, and Independence with Larissa Bailiff

“Pierre brings the art alive with her inside stories and images and how she interacts with the students. She is always able to answer and follow up with more information at the next class.” —Exhibiting Modernism: From the Salon to the Avant-Garde with Caterina Pierre

“Alison Boyd was engaging and effective during the online instruction, and she offered well-selected background materials for further reading.” —Aaron Douglas from Harlem to Philly with Alison Boyd