Aside from the completely Oriental subject matter, Delacroix continued to rebel against the more typical European style of painting typically seen during his day.
As it was common for paintings to display balance and order, Delacroix decided to paint in the vignette style which called for a strong focus in the center as the image becomes less defined at the edges.
The focus of The Death of Sardanapalus exists at the foot of the bed, where the dead concubine lays across the soft fabric while another is being stabbed by the king's servant. The details around this part of the scene are less detailed and darker.