Who painted Study of Arabs?

Study of Arabs was painted by Eugène Delacroix in 1830.

Where can I see Study of Arabs?

Study of Arabs is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study of Arabs?

Study of Arabs is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Study of Arabs?

Museum-quality prints of Study of Arabs are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Study of Arabs

Eugène Delacroix , 1830

Study of Arabs is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Eugène Delacroix. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:center left in graphite: de Fétuan(?)
Markings: Marked:artist's studio stamp

About this work

Overview

Eugène Delacroix produced the drawing Study of Arabs in 1830. Executed with watercolor and graphite on laid paper, the work captures a small group of figures in motion. The composition is rendered in a loose, sketch‑like manner, emphasizing gesture over fine detail, characteristic of Delacroix’s early Romantic investigations.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts five individuals dressed in flowing, loosely fitted garments, walking together across an undefined space. The figures are rendered in muted blues, browns and whites, with a striking red accent on one sleeve, suggesting a fleeting glimpse of cultural attire and the artist’s interest in exotic, narrative subjects.

Technique & Style

Delacroix combines watercolor washes with graphite line work, allowing color to suggest form while graphite supplies rapid, gestural outlines. The paper’s laid texture contributes to a soft tonal foundation, and the quick, rough strokes convey movement rather than precise anatomy, aligning with Romantic priorities of emotion and dynamism over classical exactitude.

History & Provenance

Created during the early phase of Delacroix’s career, the drawing reflects his exposure to the French Romantic school and his admiration for Rubens and Venetian masters. While the piece remains a study rather than a finished composition, it illustrates the artist’s developing approach that would later define his mature oeuvre.

Four Turks Wearing Turbans, Stefano Della Bella

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Artist & collection

Artist

Eugène Delacroix

Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix ( DEL-ə-krwah, -⁠KRWAH; French:; 26 April 1798 – 13 August 1863) was a French Romantic artist who was regarded as the leader of the French Romantic school.