The Ghost on the Terrace
Medium
Lithograph, first state of five
Dimensions
Image: 10 3/16 x 7 1/2 in. (25.8 x 19.1 cm) Sheet: 11 7/16 x 8 7/16 in. (29 x 21.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1922
Accession Number
22.56.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the dramatic world of Eugène Delacroix's *The Ghost on the Terrace (1843), a lithograph that brings a pivotal scene from William Shakespeare's *Hamlet* to life. This first-state proof captures the eerie apparition of King Hamlet's ghost confronting his son on the castle terrace, evoking the supernatural tension and moral turmoil at the heart of the tragedy. Delacroix, a master of Romanticism known for his expressive use of light, shadow, and emotion, drew inspiration from Shakespeare's timeless exploration of revenge, madness, and fate—perfectly suited to his dynamic style. Printed ...
About the Artist
Eugène Delacroix|William Shakespeare|Villain · 1798–1863
Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863) stands as the defining figure of French Romanticism and a pivotal bridge to modernism. Born in Charenton-Saint-Maurice near Paris, he came from distinguished lineage—his mother descended from the prestigious Oeben-Riesener furniture dynasty, while persistent speculation suggested the statesman Talleyrand may have been his biological father, a theory supported by physic...