The Tribute Money
1843
Delacroix captured the biblical drama of the Tribute Money in this energetic sketch, showing Saint Peter clutching the fish that holds the miraculous tax coin. The composition is a whirlwind of muscular figures, including a man balancing a heavy basket on his head, all rendered in loose, rapid strokes that scream Romantic emotion. It’s likely a preparatory study, giving us a rare glimpse into the artist's mind as he wrestled with how to arrange the chaotic crowd before painting the final version.
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