Who is the woman holding the French tricolor in Liberty Leading the People?

The woman holding the French tricolor in Eugène Delacroix’s painting Liberty Leading the People is not a specific historical individual, but rather an allegorical personification of Liberty.12

In the tradition of Western art, artists frequently used female figures to represent abstract virtues and social ideals. Delacroix’s figure combines this classical symbolism with a modern, realistic appearance; she is depicted as a "very real woman"—grimy and half-naked—rather than an idealized beauty. Her attire, specifically the red Phrygian cap she wears, serves as a historical symbol of freedom that gained prominence during the French Revolution. While she is often associated with Marianne, the national personification of the French Republic, Delacroix’s specific portrayal was intended to be a rousing and inspirational figure at the vanguard of the 1830 revolution.312