Eugène Delacroix
April 26, 1798 – August 13, 1863
Something else about Delacroix - he had a discussion with a friend about the question of working absolutely from nature, and said on that occasion that one should take one’s studies from nature - but that the “actual painting” had to be made “by heart.” This friend was walking along the boulevard when they had this discussion - which was already fairly heated. When they parted the other man was still not entirely persuaded.
After they parted, Delacroix let him stroll on for a bit - then (making a trumpet of his two hands) bellowed after him in the middle of the street - to the consternation of the worthy passersby:
“By heart! By heart!” (“Par coeur! Par coeur!”)
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed reading this article and some other things about Delacroix…
Vincent van Gogh, c. 1885.