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Historical Artist - Jacques-Louis David (1748 - 1825)
Jacques-Louis David studied under Joseph-Marie Viens, his early training influencing him to
paint in a rococo style. From 1775 to 1780, David studied in Italy and developed a stronger,
more passionate, and patriotic approach. His paintings around this time were also political, as
David had joined the National Convention during the French Revolution. Because of this, David
was almost executed at the demise of his group, but was saved by his royalist wife. Still
engaged with politics, David became involved with Napoleon, but was forced to move to Brussels
when he was overthrown. In the 1780s his cerebral brand of history painting marked a change in
taste away from Rococo frivolity toward a classical austerity and severity, heightened feeling
chiming with the moral climate of the final years of the ancien régime. David later
became an active supporter of the French Revolution and friend of Maximilien Robespierre
(1758-1794), and was effectively a dictator of the arts under the French Republic. Imprisoned
after Robespierre's fall from power, he aligned himself with yet another political regime upon
his release, that of Napoleon I. It was at this time that he developed his 'Empire style',
notable for its use of warm Venetian colours. David had a huge number of pupils, making him the
strongest influence in French art of the early 19th century, especially academic Salon painting.
Contemporary French Artists
Art Galleries in France
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