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),
Louis XVI Showing the Constitution to his Son
the Dauphin 1792 Graphite, 180 x 110 mm Mus?e du Louvre, Paris This drawing is from Album 7, folio 38 verso. In the spring of 1792 David received a most unexpected commission. This was to paint the king in the act of showing the constitution to his heir, the Dauphin. David was certainly no royalist and the fact that he actually started work on the picture meant that he thought that it could be a positive contribution to the course of the moderate Revolution. As well as studies for Louis XVI Showing the Constitution to his Son, the Dauphin, David also made drawings for an Allegory of the French People Offering the Crown and Sceptre to the King. These paintings were never realized. Author: DAVID, Jacques-Louis Title: Louis XVI Showing the Constitution to his Son, the Dauphin Form: graphics , 1801-1850 , French , study