Study for the Head of Christ for La Madeleine, Paris (Portrait of Eugène Buttura)

Study for the Head of Christ for La Madeleine from 1834 by Paul Delaroche is a preparatory study for his monumental mural in the Parisian church. The commission to decorate La Madeleine was one of the most important religious art commissions of the July Monarchy. Delaroche's method involved extensive research into historical costume and settings, and his large oil canvases were famous for their almost photographic clarity combined with powerful emotional staging.

The study captures the head of Christ with Delaroche's precise technique, revealing his preparatory process for the monumental church decoration.