Delacroix y la angustia ante los maestros

Abstract

The writings by Delacroix -journal, essays and letters- reflect the painter's anxiety before the old masters. Delacroix feels his originality jeopardized by the prestige of his great precursors, and fears the history of art being a constant decline. In order to degrade the masters -David, Rubens, Raphael- Delacroix emphasizes their own debts. To vindicate the modern artist, Delacroix proposes to judge him, not by his weak results, but by the standard of his efforts. Genius is personal energy, boldness (hardiesse). By faith and courage, the late-born artist can eventually escape the fate of decadence and become "a creator of himself".