Steenie or Redgauntlet Pursued by a Ghost - Ferdinand-Victor-Eugène Delacroix

A striking lithograph by Eugène Delacroix featuring an inverted reflection of riders, inspired by Sir Walter Scott's novel Redgauntlet.

This lithograph by Eugène Delacroix depicts a scene inspired by Sir Walter Scott's novel, Redgauntlet. The composition is notable for its experimental layout, featuring a primary image of two riders on horseback followed by an inverted reflection of the same figures below. This doubling effect creates a sense of spectral unease, aligning with the narrative of a character pursued by supernatural forces.

Delacroix, a central figure in the French Romantic movement, frequently turned to literature for his subject matter. His approach to printmaking often involved a fluid, expressive line that captured movement and psychological tension. In this work, the horses are rendered with dynamic energy, their forms suggesting rapid motion across the ground. The inclusion of the inverted image serves as a visual device to suggest the uncanny nature of the encounter, rather than a literal reflection in water.

The print demonstrates Delacroix's technical proficiency with lithography, a medium that allowed him to maintain the spontaneity of his drawings. The contrast between the light ground and the darker, hatched forms of the horses and riders provides a clear sense of volume and depth. The artist's signature is visible in the centre of the composition, integrated into the space between the two sets of figures. This piece offers insight into the artist's interest in the intersection of narrative fiction and visual art, showing how he translated the dramatic atmosphere of Scott's writing into a graphic format. The work remains a study in how print techniques can be manipulated to convey themes of haunting and pursuit.