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Artist Profile: Jacques-Louis David

By Shelley Esaak, About.com

Jacques-Louis David, Death of Marat

Death of Marat (1793 Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique);

Scan © Mark Harden, used with permission
Movement, Style, School or Type of Art:

Neo-Classicism

David overshadows other French painters of the period as the most noteworthy bridge between the Rococo and Romantic movements.

Date and Place of Birth:

August 30, 1748, Paris, France

Life:

David had great timing. Though his passionate support of and paintings about the French Revolution landed him in prison, they also made his career. Academically trained, his history paintings were technically flawless, but it took his Revolutionary intensity to incite him to paint the compositions for which he became famous. David had enormous influence on the next two generations of painters, having taught some (Gros and Ingres), while inspiring others (the Impressionists) to try new things.

Important Works:

    The Oath of the Horatii (1784)
    Oath of the Tennis Court (1791)
    The Death of Marat (1793)
    The Intervention of the Sabine Women (1799)
    Napoleon Crossing the Saint Bernard (1800-01)

Date and Place of Death:

(exiled from France) December 29, 1825, Brussels, Belgium

Recommended Books About Jacques-Louis David:

See more resources on Jacques-Louis David by following the links at right

Go to Artist Profiles: Names beginning with "D" or Artist Profiles: Main Index

(Image scan courtesy and copyright of Mark Harden, used with kind permission. Please visit The Artchive for more fine resources.)

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