Jacques-Louis David 1744-1825

Jacques-Louis David1744-1825

• French Painter• Supporter of the

French Revolution• One of the leading

figures of Neoclassicism

• He traveled to Rome with his master and stayed there for 6 years.

• There he changed his style of painting, abandoning the grand style, baroque use of lighting, the highly finished and morally didactic style.

• Influenced by artists such as Hamilton who had already begun experimenting with Neoclassicism.

The Oath of Horatii, 1784

• “In 1784 the change of style was confirmed by the Oath of the Horatii (Paris, Louvre), probably the most famous and certainly the most severe of a series of works which extolled the antique virtues of stoicism, masculinity and patriotism.”

The Revolution

• Played an active role during the Revolution

1. Artistically reorganized the Academie

2. Numerous and Spectacular propaganda exercises

Helen and Paris, 1788

• David was a major supporter of Robespierre

• Was arrested after his fall from power by the Directorate; saved by his former wife

As Napoleon gained power in 1799, David’s career

intensified again. • After the fall of his

patron, he retired in exile, in Brussels, where he continued to paint in the same style, but also increased his interest in the mythical.

Jacques-Louis DavidAntoine Laurent Lavoisier and His Wife

• Produced excellent portraiture

• Was a great teacher of many painters, most of whom did not follow his strict style.

Madame Recamier

David’s style was a reaction to the Rococo style.

• An example of Rococo; obviously different from Jacques-Louis David’s style – the Neoclassicism.

Les Sabines, 1799

Presentation by Svetozar A. Dimitrov

Quotation, information and pictures from various web pages were used in this presentation.