Eugene Delacroix - Jewish Bride of Tangier

Eugene Delacroix - Jewish Bride of Tangier
Official Medal 1999/5760
Fourth in the Series of "Women in Art" Medals

Eugene Ferdinand Victor Delacroix (1798 – 1863) was from a French aristocratic family. It was believed by many that his real father was Talleyrand, the famous French diplomat from Napolean's time. Delacroix's education was based on the French neoclassical tradition and thus, his works were always clear and orderly. Nevertheless, he was prominent in the development of French Romantic Art of the 19th Century. In 1832, Delacroix traveled to Morocco and was enchanted by Tangier and its Jewish Community. Influenced by the views there, he enriched his art with bold and dramatic colors and this in turn, influenced the impressionist artists of the time. The oriental life which he was able to watch closely found expression in his paintings and focused on the Jewish Community and the Jewish family. The lithograph mounted on the art medal is one of Delacroix's paintings depicting a Jewish Wedding in Tangier.

Obverse: Lithograph of the "Jewish Bride of Tangier" by Delacroix and around it, an oriental-style decoration. Below, the artist's signature in French.

Reverse: "Jacob and the Angel" by Delacroix, in bas-relief. In the upper right-hand border, "Jacob and the Angel" in English and Hebrew. Below, the artist's name in Hebrew.

Edge: State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL" inscribed in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left; the serial number and metal.

Lithograph: Eli Grebel.

Designer: Ruben Nutels.

Engraving: Gold Medal: Tidhar Dagan.
Silver and Bronze Medals: Hecht, Tel Aviv

Mint: Gold Medal: The Government Mint, Jerusalem.
Silver and Bronze Medals: Hecht, Tel Aviv.