Christ on the Sea of Galilee

Christ on the Sea of Galilee from 1841 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum shows Delacroix painting the storm at sea, a subject he treated repeatedly. The disciples' terror in the storm embodied the Romantic confrontation with nature's overwhelming power. Delacroix's method combined rapid, gestural underpainting with careful final glazing, creating surfaces of extraordinary richness and warmth; his studio practice was meticulous despite the apparent spontaneity of the results.

The tempestuous sea is rendered with dramatic palette and energetic brushwork. Delacroix's handling of waves and wind creates a compelling image of maritime peril and divine calm.