Rencontre de Cavaliers Maures. An Encounter between Moorish Riders by Eugčne Delacroix, 1798-1863

Eugčne Delacroix, 1798-1863
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Rencontre de Cavaliers Maures. An Encounter between Moorish Riders

Original etching in black ink. 1834. Signed and dated in the plate. From the extremely small first issue of 30 to 35 impressions issued for: Le Musée by Decamps Paris 1834.
Ref: Delteil-Strauber 23, first state before retouching by Delacroix. Extremely rare.
Note: The two states are not described by Delteil, state two has additional work. There is also a lithographic copy.

Extremely fine impression with the delicate but clear rich inking typical of the first issue. On cream chine appliqué characteristic of the first issue. The sheet, as always, trimmed just about on the platemark, showing the edge of the chine. A trace of the pinholes at the bottom sheet edge where originally issued for Le Musée. Sheet: 8 x 10 7/8ins. Image to border: 7 1/4x 9 7/8ins (183x251mm)

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One of the very greatest masterpieces of French Romanticism in the field of the graphic arts.

Drawn in 1834, at the height of the period of Delacroix's greatest involvement in the medium of etching, Rencontre de Cavaliers Maures epitomises all that is greatest about Delacroix's drawing, and his understanding of the linear, tone and light values of the etching medium.

Most of Delacroix's etchings drawn in the 1830's were only proofed in a few impressions at that date, but most were then issued in full editions in the 1860's after the plates had been bought by Cadart and the Society of Etchers. Rencontres de Cavaliers is not only the greatest of his Romantic compositions in etching at that date it is also amongst the very rarest, for it was only printed in an edition of about 30 impressions and at the point when it was etched in 1834. This edition was issued through the first copies of the album: Le Musée. After some 30 impressions all the subsequent examples of Le Musée included only a lithographic reproduction.

Fighting horses and horsemen were one of the great symbols of Romantic art, both in France and in England at the beginning of the 19th century. During the 1820's Delacroix had spent much time sketching wild animals in the Zoo in Paris, but, most importantly, in 1832 he arranged to be able to travel to North Africa with a French diplomatic mission. There he saw truly wild creatures for the first time. Together with the light and exoticism of the country it was a revelation for his art, the vitality and richness of the whole way of life seeming to suggest a whole new range of emotions. It is this expression of these emotions, and of the richness of the light, through the actual drawing and the inspired handling of line strengths and ink densities which makes Delacroix's romantic prints, and especially the Rencontre de Cavaliers Maures, such masterpieces.