Etude pour La mort de Sardanapale Delacroix, who singlehandedly defended Manet's painting style in the context of the Parisian Salon exhibitions, is at the root of the renewal of French painting, which inspired many young artists, including the Impressionist group, as they sought new directions. His direct and sometimes raw painting, as evidenced by this beautiful depiction of the "Death of Sardanapalus" will give a jolt to the youth of his time. His rejection of the definition of contours and the exaltation of shadows and light will create innovative effects within his work, both graphic and pictorial. Both Pissarro and Degas collected graphic works by Delacroix from which they found inspiration for their experiments.