Entry of the Crusaders in Constantinople
Encyclopedia
The Entry of the Crusaders in Constantinople (Entrée des Croisés à Constantinople) is a large painting by Eugène Delacroix
. It was commissioned by Louis-Philippe in 1838, and completed in 1840. Painted in oil on canvas
, it is in the collection of the Musée du Louvre in Paris.
Delacroix's painting depicts a famous episode of the Fourth Crusade
(12 April 1204), in which the Crusaders were diverted to Constantinople
, which was under siege. The painting shows Baldwin I of Constantinople
at the head of a procession through the streets of the city following the assault; on all sides are the city's inhabitants who beg for mercy.
The painting's luminosity and use of colour owes much to Delacroix's study of the Old Masters, such as Paolo Veronese
. The painting was exhibited in the Salon of 1841, where the painterly romanticism
of its style was controversial; Le Constitutionnel deplored "the confused and strangled composition, the dull earthy colours and the lack of definite contours", but Baudelaire appreciated the work's "abstraction faite".
Eugène Delacroix
Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school...
. It was commissioned by Louis-Philippe in 1838, and completed in 1840. Painted in oil on canvas
Oil on Canvas
Oil on Canvas is a live album by the British band Japan, released in 1983 by Virgin Records. Although it is a live recording of their established material, the album also contains three new studio tracks , recorded separately by Sylvian, Sylvian/Jansen and Barbieri respectively...
, it is in the collection of the Musée du Louvre in Paris.
Delacroix's painting depicts a famous episode of the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
(12 April 1204), in which the Crusaders were diverted to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, which was under siege. The painting shows Baldwin I of Constantinople
Baldwin I of Constantinople
Baldwin I , the first emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, as Baldwin IX Count of Flanders and as Baldwin VI Count of Hainaut, was one of the most prominent leaders of the Fourth Crusade, which resulted in the capture of Constantinople, the conquest of the greater part of the Byzantine...
at the head of a procession through the streets of the city following the assault; on all sides are the city's inhabitants who beg for mercy.
The painting's luminosity and use of colour owes much to Delacroix's study of the Old Masters, such as Paolo Veronese
Paolo Veronese
Paolo Veronese was an Italian painter of the Renaissance in Venice, famous for paintings such as The Wedding at Cana and The Feast in the House of Levi...
. The painting was exhibited in the Salon of 1841, where the painterly romanticism
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
of its style was controversial; Le Constitutionnel deplored "the confused and strangled composition, the dull earthy colours and the lack of definite contours", but Baudelaire appreciated the work's "abstraction faite".