Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863). 'Feuille de douze medailles antiques', ca. 1825. Stone signed lithograph printed in sanguine by Bertauts, Paris, on wove paper. Delteil 47.4. 315x450mm. Very rare. Of great numismatic interest! Acquired privately from Galerie Maillard-Fouilleul, Paris.

"I must begin to make drawings of some of the men of my time. Also many medals" wrote the young Delacroix in his diary (Wednesday 7 April 1824). Thus, for two years (1824 and 1825), he produced drawings and lithographs representing ancient Greek coins - still perfectly recognizable today - from the Cabinet des Medailles. Theophile Silvestre, one of the first biographers of the artist, saw in these studies one of the keys to his work!