This groundbreaking publication centers on a previously unknown variation of Eugene Delacroix's (1798-1863) dramatic masterpiece The Last Words of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, published here for the first time. This book offers a compelling reassessment of the relationship of the artist, widely considered a primary exemplar of Romanticism, to Neoclassical themes, as demonstrated by his life-long fascination with the death of Marcus Aurelius. Through this investigation, the authors reinterpret Delacroix's lineage to such fellow artists as Jean-Auguste Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) and Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825). Playing on the various interpretations of the word "finish," the book also offers a fascinating account of Delacroix's famously troubled collaboration with his studio assistants, his conflicted feelings about pedagogy, and his preoccupation with the fate of civilizations.

Distributed for the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Exhibition Schedule:

Santa Barbara Museum of Art
(10/27/13-01/26/14)

About the Author
Eik Kahng is assistant director and chief curator, Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Marc Gotlieb is director of the graduate program and Class of 1955 Memorial Professor of Art, Williams College. Michele Hannoosh is professor of French, University of Michigan.


Book Information
ISBN 9780300199444
Author Eik Kahng
Format Hardback
Page Count 168
Imprint Yale University Press
Publisher Yale University Press
Weight(grams) 1474g