Delacroix's Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople Restored
Key takeaways
- Back to Home See all breadcrumbs Explore Life at the museum Delacroix’s Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople Restored to Its Original Glory
- Commissioned in 1838 by King Louis-Philippe I, the Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople (12 April 1204) was one of many artworks intended to decorate the historical galleries of the Ch teau de Versailles.
- The mandated subject was particularly violent and ambiguous: the artist fulfilled the order with a masterful example of history painting.
Back to Home See all breadcrumbs Explore Life at the museum Delacroix’s Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople Restored to Its Original Glory
Share article Following a meticulous course of conservation treatment, Eug ne Delacroix s Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople is returning to the Red Rooms, joining a number of other famous works by the artist. By restoring the piece s colours to their original brilliance, once darkened by yellowed varnish, the conservators work has allowed its complex significance to shine through once more.
Commissioned in 1838 by King Louis-Philippe I, the Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople (12 April 1204) was one of many artworks intended to decorate the historical galleries of the Ch teau de Versailles. The painting was completed in 1840 and displayed at the 1841 Paris Salon, then found a more permanent home in the neo-Gothic Crusades Rooms in Versailles. Counted as one of Delacroix s masterpieces, it returned to Paris on several occasions, including the 1855 and 1864 retrospective exhibitions dedicated to the artist. By virtue of its artistic merit, the Administration of Fine Arts decided to transfer ownership to the Louvre in 1881, replacing it with a full-scale copy at the Ch teau de Versailles.