Liberty Leads the Way in Delacroix's Revolutionary Portrait

In this episode of Anatomy of an Artwork, explore “Liberty Leading the People”, the iconic image of the French Revolution of 1830 that has been in the collection of the Louvre since 1874. Having witnessed the revolution first-hand, Eugéne Delacroix embarked on this patriotic work, commenting “If I haven’t fought for my country, at least I’ll paint for her.” In this epic work, a semi-nude Marianne represents Liberty as well as a progressive idea of womanhood. Filled with symbols and characters, this monumental work has continued to serve as an iconic image in the ongoing fight for freedom and human rights.