Study for Count Charles de Mornay 1837

Eugène Delacroix made this pencil drawing, Study for Count Charles de Mornay, as preparation for a painting. Delacroix was active in France during a time of rapid social change and growing public awareness of political issues. Count de Mornay was the half-brother of Napoleon III, who ruled France as emperor. He’s depicted here with a casualness that belies his high social standing. Delacroix's art often questioned or challenged existing social norms. It's important to consider the institutional histories of the time. The French Academy, for example, played a significant role in shaping artistic tastes and values, favoring conservative styles. Delacroix, however, was a leading figure in the Romantic movement, which emphasized emotion and individualism over classical restraint. Historians delve into letters, diaries, and other primary sources to shed light on the social and institutional contexts that shape artistic production. Art's meaning is contingent on these contexts.