Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863). Studies of nine greek coins. 1825. Lithograph. 30x21cm. Fourth state of five. Signed and dated in stone. Delteil 46. Usual foxing. Of great numismatic interest. From a private collection
Beyond his most emblematic works, it is less known that the young Eugène Delacroix had a taste for the design of ancient coins. For two years, between 1824 and 1825, he thus produced several lithographs depicting Greek coins (still perfectly recognizable today) from the Cabinet des médailles (Paris). Art historian Théophile Silvestre even described these studies as "the foundation of Delacroix's drawing system"!