Ravenswood and Caleb
1827-29
Eugène Delacroix captured a tense, brooding moment between the hero Edgar Ravenswood and his loyal, aging servant Caleb in this dynamic sketch. Based on Walter Scott's gothic novel *The Bride of Lammermoor*, the drawing shows the stern young man clutching his sword while his hunched companion gestures deferentially, almost pleadingly. Delacroix was absolutely obsessed with Scott's literature, producing numerous illustrations that brought these dramatic, romantic tales to life with scratchy, energetic lines and moody brown washes. If you look closely at the top, you can even see faint pencil sketches of architecture, hinting at the artist's chaotic brainstorming process before committing to the final composition.
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