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Charioteers (recto and verso)

Eugène Delacroix

1830

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century equestrianism

Dominant colour

Charioteers (recto and verso) is a 1830 ink by Eugène Delacroix, a Romanticism work, depicting equestrianism, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Eugène Delacroix
When & what style?: 1830 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

You see two quick sketches of chariot races—one side shows horses rearing, the other a rider mid-turn. Delacroix drew these in just a few minutes, probably while watching real races in North Africa. The ink lines are loose but full of energy, like he was trying to keep up with the speed of the scene. He used cross-hatching—tiny crisscrossed lines—to add shadows and depth without slowing down. If you like this, look up more works from Romanticism.