Jacques Louis David
Jacques-Louis David – the court painter of the Revolution. He created unforgettable oil paintings that became icons of Classicism. But he also often took up the pen to capture the final moments of the condemned. When Danton was being taken to the guillotine on the execution cart, he saw David at work and shouted at him: Lackey!
– a brief and striking characterization of the moral qualities of this exceptional artist. In the Committee of General Security, David helped to organize judicial murders without showing any scruples. As long as Robespierre was considered the master of the Republic, David remained his loyal aide. Even on 8 Thermidor, he swore loyalty to him unto death. On 9 Thermidor, Robespierre fell. David reported himself ill that day – for keeping his promise might have endangered his brilliant career.
JK
1748 - 1825
- August 13, 1748 · Born in Paris.
- 1781 · David is admitted to the Royal Academy.
- September 1792 · Deputy for the Paris department in the National Convention.
- September 14, 1793 · Elected to the Committee of General Security.
- October 14, 1793 · David presents his painting
The Death of Marat
to the Convention. - August 1794 · After the fall of Robespierre, David is imprisoned.
- December 27, 1794 · He is released from prison and resumes his seat in Parliament.
- May 20, 1795 · Arrested again after the Prairial uprising.
- October 26, 1795 · Amnestied during the dissolution of the National Convention, David withdraws from political life.
- November 9, 1799 · Napoleon's rise to power. In the following period, David becomes the official painter of the Consul and later Emperor.
- 1816 · David is exiled from France as a
regicide
. - December 29, 1825 · Dies in Brussels.
Quotes
We must use a lot of red!
David, 1793
I had been ill for eight days, and on the 9th (of Thermidor) I took an emetic that caused me great discomfort and forced me to stay at home all day and all night; I only went to the Assembly the following morning.
David before the Convention, July 31, 1794
It is hard to imagine how deeply that unfortunate man (Robespierre) deceived me; he misled me with his hypocritical sentiments.
David, ibid.
Talk to David
Question →
Enter your question above.
External links
Le Moniteur
Quintidi, 15 Thermidor, l'an 2 de la République Frančaise une et indivisible
(August 2, 1794)
Sketch for the Coronation of Napoleon, 1805
