Christ Asleep during the Tempest ca. 1853 Eugène Delacroix French Delacroix painted at least six versions of this New Testament lesson in faith: when awakened by his terrified disciples, Christ scolded them for their lack of trust in Providence. In the earlier works, the seascape is more prominent; in the later ones, as here, Christs bark occupies a more significant place. After Vincent van Gogh saw this version in Paris in 1886, he wrote, "Christs boat—Im talking about the blue and green sketch with touches of purple and red and a little lemon yellow for the halo, the aureole—speaks a symbolic language through color itself.". Christ Asleep during the Tempest. Eugène Delacroix (French, Charenton-Saint-Maurice 1798-1863 Paris). ca. 1853. Oil on canvas. Paintings