Large Bouquet of Flowers—Mostly Dahlias—in a Blue and White Jar

Eugène Delacroix

Oil on canvas

Philadelphia Museum of Art

This exuberant floral still life by Eugène Delacroix presents a generous arrangement of flowers—dominated by dahlias in white, pink, orange, and red—overflowing from a blue and white ceramic jar. Delacroix, widely regarded as the leader of the French Romantic school, brought to the still life genre the same bold brushwork, vibrant color, and expressive energy that distinguished his monumental history paintings. Though few in number, his floral still lifes were seen by contemporaries as concentrated studies in the 'abstract' qualities of painting—color, composition, and execution—rather than botanical description. These works anticipate the Impressionist treatment of the genre and demonstrate Delacroix's lifelong passion for flowers and gardens.