Jacques-Louis David: Pioneer of Neoclassicism
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Jacques Louis David (1749—1825) was a very important painter during the late 18C and the early 19C painting. He was the master of Neo-classicism and later Romanticism. At time he was some what artistic Czar of the time. Neoclassicism was a ‘modernising’ artistic movement of the time after the decline of the aristocratic art of Rococo. In 1782 he became an Academician and in 1784 he returned to Rome to paint the Oath of the Horatii (1785), an important painting in the history of painting. It was more like the underground art of its days. During the French Revolution, he became a Deputy and involved with the politics of the day. Many well-known painters of the early 19C were his pupils, including Gerard & Ingres. As a painter, his portraits were supreme. Due to the changing politics of France, he imposed self-exile and cut off from the main stream of Romanticism in France.
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Jacques-Louis David: Pioneer of Neoclassicism
- 1. Jacques-Louis David The pioneer of the Neoclassicism First created July 2005. Version 3.0 - 7 Nov 2019. Daperro. London.
- 2. French Revolution ( 1789-1799) and Neoclassicism (1765-1830) Rococo, with its decorative and aristocratic style, was the dominant artistic movement in France before the outbreak of the French Revolution. David believed in the revolutionary ideal. But at the end of his life, he was in exile in Belguim as Neoclassicism declined. It was a revolutionary dream that had gone sour. The portrait of the Artist. 1794. Oil on Canvas. 81x64 cm. Jacques-Louis David. Musee du Louvre, Paris Neoclassicism was born, leading up to the revolution. It was a revival of the ancient traditions, inspired by the arts and sculptures discovered in Herculaneum and Pompeii, in Italy. Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) with his pivotal works, Death of Marat and Oath of the Horatii, embodied the ideas of basic human rights, rationalism and moral rectitude.
- 3. Neo-classicists imitated antique art both in style and subject matter. For David, this meant using classical poses, set in a Greek or Roman traditions. His style was technically commanding but at times austere or academic. David adopted a highly theoretical and intellectual approach, leading to the use of formal and theatrical gestures. Many of his works are painted on large canvas. His art became the official art of the French Revolution and of the Napoleonic Empire. He was closely involved in revolution and was one of the first painters of propaganda. He died in exile in Brussels in 1825 at the age 77. Neoclassicism 1765-1830
- 4. It was David’s first commission was an altarpiece in the chapel of the Lazaret (quarantine centre) in Marseille. First Commission 1780
- 5. This was David first Neoclassical styled painting, in which a the Byzantine general Belisarius, who was accused of treason and disgraced. His blinded as an outcast. Recognized by one of the soldier who served under, he received alms from a woman. Beginning of his Neoclassical style. 1781
- 6. Oath of the Horatii. 1784
- 7. This was the first painting that bought fame to David. It was a defining images of its time before the French Revolution. The painting emphasizes the citizen’s loyalty to the state rather than the clan or clergy. The family of Horatii was chosen to fight the family from Alba Longa to settle a dispute between the city of Rome and the city of Alba Longa. The painting was a depiction of dutiful patriotism, with austere and formal theatrical poses. The focal point is the sword, the tension of the sons and the father and the weeping women in the corner all spaced out in a stage- like settings. Oath of the Horatii. (Detail) 1784
- 8. One of the sister was killed by her own brother for crying for the enemy, as she was betrothed to the Alba Longa’s family. Oath of the Horatii. (Detail) 1784
- 10. Death of Socrates 1787
- 11. Return of the Sons of Brutus. 1789
- 12. Brutus the First Consul of the Roman Republic sitting on the left of the painting under a shadow, having condemned his two sons for plotting against the Republic, with the last king of Rome. David’s message of self- sacrifice for the Republican ideals is very clear. The painting was completed, after the storming of the Bastille began and the French Revolution had begun, but the government of the king was still in power. When the newspapers reported the authority had banned the painting, the people were outraged and the government was forced to give in. The painting went on to be shown in exhibitions, defended by art students. Return of the Sons of Brutus. 1789
- 13. Marquise d’Orvilliers (Detail). 1790
- 14. The beginning of the French Republic 1497
- 15. Marat 1793
- 16. Marat 1793 Marat, a leader of the French revolution and a friend of David, was killed by his Royalist rival. David painted Marat’s limp arm by the bath, a similar pose to Michelangelo’s Pieta in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome.
- 18. The Sabine Women 1799
- 19. In 1795, David, the political activist was imprisoned. He started to work on the painting from 1796, when France was at war other European nations and civil conflicts within the French Republic, culminating in the Reign of Terror. While he was in prison, he was regularly visited by his loyal wife, Charlotte Pecoul and his four children. Even though they were divorced since 1794. They remarried again after securing his release. The painting was a tribute to his wife and a recognition of the power of women as a peacemakers. It is also a plea of reconciliation and to reunite after the bloodshed and terror of the revolution. Roman captured the Sabine Women to be their wives. The painting showed that the Sabine women rushed with their babies, between their husbands and their brothers & fathers to stop the fighting. Woman as a peace maker and as a Victim. The Sabine Women 1799
- 20. The Sabine Women 1799
- 21. Madame de Veminac 1799
- 22. Napoleon rising power Napoleon continued with the revolution and introduced revolutionary ideals to France. His military success initially consolidated the revolution, but also turned France into a military dictatorship. He betrayed the revolution and he crowned himself to be the Emperor of France.
- 23. The painting was in such demand that five versions were painted. Bonaparte Crossing the Alps 1801
- 24. Coronation fo Napoleon 1805
- 25. Coronation of Napoleon (Detail) 1805
- 26. Coronation of Napoleon (Detail) 1805
- 27. Not only Napoleon had betrayed of ideals of the Republic, he also bought a continental war to Europe. He invaded Russia, Italy, Spain etc. Napoleon in his Study at Tuileries 1812 He also brought modern warfare, transforming from relatively small scale to a conscripts total war, with artillery and military organization.
- 28. Leonidas at Thermopylae 1814
- 29. David had begun the painting in 1798 as a companion piece to the Intervention of the Sabine Woman. However, it was completed much later in 1814. The 300 Spartans, led by their king Leonidas, were prepared to sacrifice their lives for Greece. They were finally killed only after their heroic defeat to ensured the safe retreat of the Greek fleet. Leonidas at Thermopylae 1814
- 31. David exile in Brussels
- 32. Cupid and Psyche 1817
- 33. Mars disarmed by Venus 1824
- 34. Mars disarmed by Venus (Detail) 1824
- 36. Madame Recamier (1777-1848) On the right is a painting of Madame Recamier by an unknown artist. Madame Recamier married a wealthy banker at the tender age of 15 and kept her virginity into middle age. David painted her portrait when she was 23. Her natural beauty was enhanced by a simple dress and a hair band. David’s portrait was unfinished due to a disagreement between the artist and the subject. The background of the painting is bare contrasting with David’s more polished works. David painted the charming young maiden with grace and elegance, as though she had just turned to look at us who had entered the room. She is painted with brown hair instead of her darker natural colour, to suit the colour scheme. Note. I cannot find the painter who painted the above portrait of Madame Recamier.
- 37. Madame Recamier. 1802. 255x145cm. Francois Gerard. French. Musee Carnavalet, Paris. This painting was painted by Francois- Pascal Gerard, a former pupil of David, two years later. Gerard was asked to paint her. He was the most successful society portrait artist of the day. Hearing this news, David left his painting unfinished. Comparing the three portraits, it appears that Gerard has achieved a better likeness than David. Given David was such a good painter, it is possible he was trying to give her a more elegant look. Two of the portraits show her with black hair, a seductive look, a low cut dress and bare shoulders. Gerard gave his painting a rosy tint, a gentle smile and a more youthful look. At the time, this was considered to be flattering. Gerard’s Madame Recamier 1802
- 38. A Comparison of the two Madame Recamier. Madame Recamier in David’s painting, as charming, natural, graceful and elegant yet a little distant. Her hair is more natural but a little unkempt. In Gerard’s painting, she was lovely, simple, pretty and flirtatious. In contrast, her hair in the painting is neat.
- 39. The piece of furniture today is known as a Recamier couch. Rene Magrette, the Surrealist painter, made a series of paintings based on 19th Century French artists, substituting coffins for figures. The graceful and charming beauty of Madame Recamier is no long there but replaced by a cold and emotionless coffin. Magrette painted a piece of clothing left behind, giving us a hint of her previous existence. Perspective :Madame Recamier by David. 1951. Oil on canvas. 60.5x80.5 cm. Rene Margritte. French. National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa. Magrette’s Madame Recamier.
- 42. All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal use. Music – I Dreamed a Dream, Eru Matsumoto and Jerry Dean. from the musical, Les Miserables The End
- 43. 19C Painters