Cheval attaqué par une lionne

Horse Attacked by a Lioness from 1840 at the Louvre shows Delacroix's fascination with animal combat. His paintings of predatory encounters draw on Rubens and the antique while expressing the Romantic theme of nature's violent energy. 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 violent encounter is captured with dynamic brushwork and warm palette. Delacroix's handling of the struggling animals conveys raw natural power with painterly virtuosity.