(In the Wallace Collection)
It was probably during his visit to London in 1825 that Delacroix first
realised the pictorial possibilities of Goethe's great drama. His
correspondence shows that he was deeply impressed with a performance of
"Faust" which he witnessed in London, and which probably suggested to
him the series of nineteen lithographs, published by Sautelet in 1828.
Goethe himself referred to these lithographs in terms of exaggerated
praise. The catalogue of Delacroix's works includes quite a number of
paintings illustrative of scenes from "Faust," of which the one in the
Wallace Collection is one of the most successful.
[Illustration: PLATE VIII.--FAUST AND MEPHISTOPHELES]
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The frescoes in the Chapel of the Saints-Anges were the swan-song of
Delacroix's genius. In the two years that followed their completion,
he still continued to paint and to draw--the practice of his art was
for him the very breath of life--but he produced nothing that need be
considered in the record of his achievement. In March 1863, the
affection of his eyes, of which he had suffered intermittently for
years, took a turn for the worse. On the 26th of May he left Paris for
Champrosay, but during the journey had a severe attack of hemorrhage of
the lungs, which recurred five days later; and he had to be taken back
to Paris. His illness became worse and worse, and after a month he was
taken back to the country, only to be sent back again to Paris on July
14. His days were counted. He took to his bed immediately upon his
arrival, and breathed his last at six o'clock in the morning on August
13, 1863.