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Lot Essay
Malgré les différences de format et de composition, ce dessin vigoureux est étroitement lié à la dernières des lithographies de Delacroix illustrant Hamlet de Shakespeare datée de 1843 (fig. 1; D. Schäfer dans Eugène Delacroix, cat. exp., Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, 2003-2004, no. 124, ill.). Alors que le défunt Laërte, frère d’Ophélie, est emporté par ses amis, Hamlet meurt dans les bras de son ami Horatio (Acte V, scène 2). Le traitement baroque de la composition du dessin et de la gravure ainsi que l’utilisation de la pierre noire associée à la sanguine, rappellent certains des dessins de Pierre Paul Rubens que Delacroix admirait beaucoup. D’autre part, le groupe de personnages autour de Laërte cite très clairement la célèbre Déposition de Raphaël à la villa Borghèse de Rome.
Fig. 1. Villain, d’après Eugène Delacroix, La Mort d’Hamlet, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Despite the differences in format and composition, this vigorous drawing is closely related to the last of Delacroix’ lithographs illustrating Hamlet, dated 1843 (fig. 1; D. Schäfer in Eugène Delacroix, exhib. cat., Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, 2003-2004, no. 124, ill.). While the dead Laërtes, Ophelia’s brother, is being carried away by his friends, Hamlet dies in the arms of his friend Horatio (Act V, scene 2). The Baroque quality of the compositions of both drawing and print is echoed by the angular style and combined use of black and red chalk, which recall certain drawings by Peter Paul Rubens, whom Delacroix admired greatly. On the other hand, in the group around Laërtes Delacroix clearly quotes the famous Deposition by Raphael at the Villa Borghese, Rome.
Fig. 1. Villain, d’après Eugène Delacroix, La Mort d’Hamlet, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Despite the differences in format and composition, this vigorous drawing is closely related to the last of Delacroix’ lithographs illustrating Hamlet, dated 1843 (fig. 1; D. Schäfer in Eugène Delacroix, exhib. cat., Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, 2003-2004, no. 124, ill.). While the dead Laërtes, Ophelia’s brother, is being carried away by his friends, Hamlet dies in the arms of his friend Horatio (Act V, scene 2). The Baroque quality of the compositions of both drawing and print is echoed by the angular style and combined use of black and red chalk, which recall certain drawings by Peter Paul Rubens, whom Delacroix admired greatly. On the other hand, in the group around Laërtes Delacroix clearly quotes the famous Deposition by Raphael at the Villa Borghese, Rome.