Delacroix 2018

24. St. Sebastian Tended by the Holy Women St. Sébastien secouru par les Saintes Femmes

1852–54 Pastel on paper 7 1 ⁄ 8 x 10 3 ⁄ 8

inches (18.1 x 26.4 cm) Inscribed in ink on back: Donné par moi à Jenny Leguillou / le 24 mars 1855 / Eug Delacroix

PROVENANCE Given by Delacroix to his housekeeper, March 24, 1855 (possibly for her

birthday on March 25); Baron Vitta, by 1930; George Heilbrun; Acquired by Pierre Berès, 1942; His sale, Sotheby’s London, 30 November 1993, lot 7; Private collection.

LITERATURE Journal, Vol I, p. 843, 28 September 1854; Johnson 1995, pp. 134–135, no. 37 illustrated.

Our pastel is a variant of an 1836 painting purchased by the French state for the Church of St. Michel, Nantua. L. Johnson counted seven smaller reprises of the subject painted between 1836 and 1858.

LOAN PRIVATE COLLECTION