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),
Homer Reciting his Verses to the Greeks
1794 Black and red chalk, pen, ink and wash, 272 x 345 mm Mus?e du Louvre, Paris David also began work in prison on a history painting on the theme of Homer Reciting his Verses to the Greeks; he closely identified with the blind poet of antiquity because of a shared sense of solitude and victimization. Author: DAVID, Jacques-Louis Title: Homer Reciting his Verses to the Greeks Form: graphics , 1801-1850 , French , mythological