Jacques-Louis David (1748, Paris, France – 1825, Brussels, Belgium) 

Born in Paris in 1748, Jacques-Louis David was originally destined for a career in architecture. However, he chose to pursue painting and was first trained by François Boucher. In 1766, he began studying under Joseph-Marie Vien at the “Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture”. After winning the Prix de Rome in 1774, David studied classical art in Rome, which had a lasting influence on his style and led to a clear, monumental visual language. 

With his famous painting “The Oath of the Horatii” (1784), created during a trip to Rome, David broke with Rococo and established Neoclassicism as a vehicle for moral and political ideals. As a close associate of Maximilien de Robespierre, he rose to become the head of all artistic affairs during the French Revolution. He was responsible for museum administration, exhibition organization, and the staging of political ceremonies. In 1793, he painted the iconic “The Death of Marat”, which became a symbol of the revolutionary era. 

After Robespierre’s fall, David was imprisoned twice. Later, he aligned himself with the new regime and became Napoleon’s court painter. He produced numerous portraits, including the famous equestrian painting of Napoleon crossing the Alps. Following the end of the Napoleonic era, David went into exile in Brussels in 1816. Although he continued to paint, he was unable to recapture his earlier success. He died in 1825 at the age of 77. 

Even after his death, David’s Neoclassical style continued to shape French art for decades and was carried forward by many students and followers.