Le Depart Pour la Chasse

In his original oil painting, “Depart pour la Chasse,” Delacroix has gone back to one of his favorite subject—the hunt. Straying from the warm and vibrant tones of his cityscapes, Delacroix fills this small but powerful vignette with rich blues and dark greens to create a tension as the hunters, astride their horses, prepare to leave on their excursion—their pack of hounds stand tall and proud, ready to dash away into the thick forest at the paintings edge. The bright read coats of the men and warm ochre and brown of the changing leaves juxtapose the cool tones that dominate this painting, drawing your eye through the many complex and beautiful layers of this exquisite piece.