Showcase Course Module 2: Composer and Artist

This week we will take a deeper look at Frédéric Chopin and Eugene Delacroix. As you listen and view their works, you may find that you are already familiar with their work.

If you have questions or thoughts after getting to know Frédéric Chopin and Eugene Delacroix, make sure to share them in the Bulletin Board. When you are ready, you can select each composer or artist below to learn more about them and review examples of their work.

Composer Profile: Frédéric Chopin (1810 - 1849)

Polish composer Frédéric Chopin reflected the influences of the Romantic era, especially in his use of nationalistic themes in his pieces. He performed his first concert at the age of 8 and quickly gained a name for himself outside of Polish circles. In 1831, he left for Paris and established a reputation there as an instructor and composer. All of his works are for piano, one of the first composers to dedicate themselves entirely to the instrument. His best works were produced while in a relationship with writer George Sand.

Chopin's Nocturne Op.9 No.2

Artist Profile: Eugene Delacroix (1798 - 1863)

Eugene Delacroix was a Romantic French artist known for his use of color in his paintings. He caught the attention of critics from a young age, only 24. He was inspired by the dramatic events of his time, especially the Greek revolution as depicted in Massacre at Chios and the French Revolution of 1830 in his most famous piece, Liberty Leading the People. He was recognized as the premier French artist of his day and had a substantial influence on the next generation of artists, especially the Impressionists.

Examples of Eugene Delacroix's Work

Below are examples of of Eugene Delacroix's work. Select each example below to enlarge the image.

The Massacre at Chios

The Massacre at Chios is a major oil painting by Eugene Delacroix. At more than four meters tall, this painting depicts some of the horrors of the wartime destruction on the Island of Chios. In a scene of widespread desolation, Delacroix shows suffering characters, military strength, colorful costumes, terror, disease, and death in the foreground.

Enlarged View of The Massacre at Chios

Liberty Leading the People

In Delacroix's painting, Liberty Leading the People, Delacroix commemorates the toppling of King Charles X of France during the July Revolution of 1830. The main focus of the painting is of a woman wearing a pharygian cap. This woman not only represents the people, but personifies the ideal of Liberty. She leads the people over a barricade and bodies of the fallen while holding a flag of the French Revolution.

Enlarged View of Liberty Leading the People

Portrait of George Sand

The Portrait of George Sand was part of a Delacroix painting called The Portrait of Frédéric Chopin and George Sand. Following Delacroix's death, the original work was cut into two separate works of art. The Portrait of George Sand shows French Romantic novelist, George Sand, sitting and sewing. She was one of the first French writers to establish an international reputation and was often known for her abnormal behavior for a woman during this time period.

Enlarged View of The Portrait of George Sand