The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

A Young Black Woman Fetching Water

1832

Eugène Delacroix

(French, 1798–1863)
France
Watercolor and graphite, heightened with gouache on paper
Support: 32.4 x 25.9 cm (12 3/4 x 10 3/16 in.); Matted: 34.9 x 27.9 cm (13 3/4 x 11 in.); Sheet: 23.5 x 16.4 cm (9 1/4 x 6 7/16 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2023.123
Catalogue raisonné: Robaut 499
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Delacroix replicated and slightly changed the image in this watercolor as a wood engraving published in the popular journal L’Illustration in 1844.

Description

In 1832, the French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix was invited to accompany the Count de Mornay, ambassador to the Sultan of Morocco, on a journey to Spain, Morocco, and Algeria. While there, he created this watercolor depicting a young woman—likely an enslaved African—as she engaged in domestic work. The drawing was one of 18 that Delacroix included in an album given to the count as a souvenir of their travels.
  • Given by the artist [1798-1863] to Charles Edgar de Mornay, Count de Mornay [1803-1878], Paris, 1832
    Armand-Alexandre-Joseph-Adrien de Caulaincourt, Marquis de Caulaincourt, Duc de Vicence [1815-1896], Paris, by descent, 1877-1896
    1896–1973
    Caulaincourt family, Paris
    1973
    Galerie André Watteau, Paris, sold to private collection
    1973–2009
    Private collection, London, by descent
    November 25, 2009
    Sale, Christie’s, London, November 25, 2009, no. 4 (bought in), 2009
    2009–23
    Private collection, London (returned from sale), sold to Cleveland Museum of Art
    September 11, 2023–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=A Young Black Woman Fetching Water|url=false|author=Eugène Delacroix|year=1832|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2023.123