Housed in a charming apartment and studio that the artist occupied from 1857 to the end of his life, the museum was founded in 1952, when the Society of Friends of Delacroix donated its collection to the State. Although Delacroix lived here at the twilight of his days, his talent was still as strong as ever. In fact, he set up camp in the residence so that he would be close to St.-Sulpice, where he was working on the paintings in the aforementioned chapel. Visitors to the museum will find works and objects relating, not just to the artist’s later years, but to various stages in his development and output.

What’s felt, too, is a sense of intimacy – it’s not just Delacroix the artist we see here, but also Delacroix the friend and mentor. The museum’s permanent collection also includes the painter’s "Mary Magdalene in the Desert", a mysterious canvass that inspired poet Charles Baudelaire. Nearby, the Italian-Renaissance tinged "The Education of the Virgin", is a work whose origin and ownership have quite a lot to do with Delacroix’s pal George Sand. In "Portrait of a Boy in a Blue Beret", for example, the painter’s signature warm palette and curved lines are replaced by the blues and browns and smooth traits of 17th century Dutch masters like Vermeer. If, after pursuing the museum’s collection, you’re still hungry for more Delacroix, a great map near the exit indicates where to find his works throughout Paris.

Besides the works on display, visitors will find everything from the room where Delacroix died, to photos and personal possessions, to sketches and idle scribblings by the painter, many of which include self-portraits. Just outside is the studio the artist designed himself. Large and spacious, its high walls are decorated with three small antique-looking friezes by Delacroix, that echo the three classical reliefs on the exterior. Visitors get to see more of the master’s works inside, not to mention things like palettes and paintbrushes that belonged to him, letters, sketches of family events, and a large chest he brought back from his influential trip to North Africa. The brushes and palettes are excellently preserved, with pigments still on them. Staring at these items, the artist’s presence is palpable.

In short, in its goal to bring the life and works of this vital painter to life, the Musée Delacroix is a hit, and makes for a great visit for anyone, especially when followed by a trip to the Louvre or the nearby St.-Sulpice to see the masterpieces to which these sketches, color trials, and life experiences have led.