DELACROIX EUGENE: (1798-1863) French artist of the Romantic school. A.L.S., Eug. Delacroix, two pages, 8vo, n.p., 30th January 1848, to a gentleman (evidently a writer), in French. Delacroix states that he is grateful to his correspondent for sending a book, and the flattering letter which accompanied it, thanking him for both, and remarking ´Je me promets beaucoup de plaisir à la lecture de ces scenes d´orient qui ont toujours été pour moi l´objet d´une prédilection´ (Translation: ´ I promise myself much pleasure in reading these scenes from the East, which have always been my favourite subject´). The artist further writes ´Je prends la liberté de vous adresser un billet d´entrée a la bibliothèque de la chambre des députés ou je viens d´achever un travail qui a duré plusieures années. Je serais heuruex que vous consacriez quelques instants à les visiter. Je vous engage a choisir un jour clair´ (Translation: ´I am taking the liberty of sending you a ticket to the library of the Chamber of Deputies where I have just completed a work that has lasted several years. I would be delighted if you would take a few moments to visit them. Please choose a clear day´). With blank integral leaf. VGç

From 1833 onwards Delacroix received numerous commissions to decorate public buildings in Paris. In that year he began work for the Salon du Roi in the Chambre des Députés, Palais Bourbon, which was not completed until 1837. He then made proposals for the remainder of the Palais Bourbon and was selected to paint the ceiling of the library, in a series of five cupolas and two half-domes, while three other accomplished artists worked in other areas of the building. The whole work was finished in 1848.