Ferdinand
Eugène Delacroixwas a French Romantic painter whose use of colour was influential in the development of both Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting. His visit to
Morocco in 1832 inspired him further. His inspiration came from historical or contemporary events or literature, and a visit to Morocco in 1832 provided him with further exotic subjects.
Eugène Delacroix's life was full of ups and downs. He had a rough childhood and his first wife died in childbirth. Delacroix suffered from epilepsy, which made him prone to depression. He was also a perfectionist and he struggled with his career as an artist, who was not respected by the art community of his time. Delacroix continued to paint throughout his life, but he also had a secret passion: music. He played the flute and the guitar and composed music for operas and theatrical performances. He is perhaps best known for his painting Liberty Leading the People, which commemorates the July Revolution of 1830. The painting shows a bare-breasted woman leading people to freedom; it is considered as one of the first works of modern art because of its use of bright colors.