Jane Shore by Eugène Delacroix

Jane Shore

Eugène Delacroix · 1828

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“This lithograph plunges you into a moment of intense public shame, depicting Jane Shore, mistress of Edward IV, in utter despair amidst a condemning crowd. The stark contrasts of light and shadow amplify her isolation and the scene's emotional weight.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

In this dramatic lithograph, a woman, Jane Shore, kneels in a posture of despair, her head bowed and her hands clasped in front of her. She is surrounded by a hostile crowd, their faces contorted in judgment, their bodies pressing in. The scene is set in a shadowy, oppressive space, emphasized by the stark contrasts of light and dark inherent to the lithographic process. A single figure, perhaps a guard or an official, stands over her, adding to the sense of her isolation and vulnerability. The artist captures a moment of intense emotional distress, focusing on the psychological impact of public humiliation. This work exemplifies the Romantic movement's fascination with historical narratives and heightened human emotion.

DETAILS
Artist
Eugène Delacroix
Date
1828
Medium
Lithograph in black on light-gray China paper laid down on white wove paper
Location
Art Institute of Chicago
Dimensions
Image: 26 × 34.5 cm (10 1/4 × 13 5/8 in.); Chine: 29.2 × 37.7 cm (11 1/2 × 14 7/8 in.); Sheet: 49 × 63.5 cm (19 5/16 × 25 in.)
ART MOVEMENTS
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What to Notice

Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Jane Shore
01

The way Jane Shore's bowed head and clasped hands convey her profound despair.

02

The varied expressions of judgment and accusation on the faces in the crowd.

03

The deep shadows and bright highlights that intensify the scene's drama.

04

The figure standing over Jane Shore, emphasizing her isolation.

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THE ARTIST

Eugène Delacroix

1798–1863 · France

French Romantic master whose 'Lion Hunt' and exotic scenes revolutionized color and movement in 19th-century art.

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Beyond Delacroix and Romanticism: works from the same years, and from the other movements Jane Shore belongs to.

Amédée-David, the Comte de Pastoret Same movement · Academic art Amédée-David, the Comte de Pastoret Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1823 · Art Institute of Chicago The Estuary Farm Same era · 1810s–1840s The Estuary Farm Léon-Victor Dupré · 1831 · Art Institute of Chicago Head of a Child Same movement · Academic art Head of a Child Jacques-Louis David · 1768 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Chichester Canal Same era · 1810s–1840s Chichester Canal J. M. W. Turner · 1829 · National Trust The Entombment of Christ Same movement · Academic art The Entombment of Christ Caravaggio · 1600 · Pinacoteca Vaticana The Fortune Teller (La Bonne Aventure) Same era · 1810s–1840s The Fortune Teller (La Bonne Aventure) Jacques-Louis David · 1824 · Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Drunkenness of Noah Same movement · Academic art Drunkenness of Noah Michelangelo · 1509 · Sistine Chapel Saturn Devouring His Son Same era · 1810s–1840s Saturn Devouring His Son Francisco Goya · 1820 · Museo del Prado
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