A Portrait of Dr. François-Marie Desmaisons

Portrait of Dr. Desmaisons from 1832 at the Detroit Institute shows Delacroix painting a medical professional with Romantic vitality. His portraits combine psychological penetration with his characteristically rich palette. 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 portrait is rendered with warm palette and energetic handling. Delacroix's brushwork captures the sitter's character with Romantic directness.