Study for "The Death of Sardanapalus"

Study for the Death of Sardanapalus from 1850 at the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo relates to Delacroix's most controversial painting. The original 1827 canvas caused scandal with its orgiastic violence and became a manifesto of Romantic painting. Delacroix executed the work with his characteristic broken, energetic brushwork and rich colorism, building up his surfaces in ways that directly influenced the Impressionists who studied his technique at the Louvre after his death.

The study shows Delacroix working through elements of the complex composition. The vibrant palette and dynamic handling reveal the energy behind his most provocative work.