David, Jacques-Louis
French Neoclassical Painter, 1748-1825
Jacques-Louis David is famous for his huge, dramatic canvasses of Napoleon and other historical figures, including Oath of the Horatii (1784), Death of Marat (1793) and The Sabine Women (1799). Early in his career he was a leader in the neoclassical movement; later his subjects became more modern and political. David was himself active in the French Revolution as a supporter of Robespierre and is sometimes called the chief propagandist for the Revolution; after the Reign of Terror ended he was briefly imprisoned for his actions. When Napoleon took power David became his court painter and created several grand canvasses of the Emperor, including the heroic Napoleon Bonaparte Crossing the Alps (1801) and the enormous Coronation of Napoleon and Josephine (1807). David also painted Napoleon in His Study (1812),
ID: 62525 Portrait of Jeanbon Saint-Andr 1795 Pen, black ink, wash and white highlights, diameter 182 mm Art Institute, Chicago When in prison, David drew an oval portrait of a fellow detainee, the former Protestant minister, Jeanbon Saint-Andr? Politically Saint-Andr?had much in common with David. David's portrait shows him as upright and determined, with no hint of a man subdued by imprisonment. David, however, revealed his personal sense of injustice in an inscription in Latin at the bottom of the drawing: 'A gift of friendship. Solace of affection. David made in chains Year III of the French Republic (1795) Messidor 20.' Author: DAVID, Jacques-Louis Title: Portrait of Jeanbon Saint-Andr? Form: graphics , 1801-1850 , French , portrait
