Monday, September 6, 2010

Jacques-Louis David

                                                               Napoleon's nieces
The artist of the Revolution. To quote:
David was as political an artist as ever lived. He was a leader of the French Revolution, a prominent member of the radical Jacobin party, and a close friend of leader (and infamous tyrant) Maximilien Robespierre. He organized over-the-top propaganda festivals for France’s new republic. He even did jail time for his role in the Reign of Terror.
                                                                            David

                                                               Coronation of Napoleon

                                              Marie-Antoinette on her way to the guillotine
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12 comments:

Julygirl said...

A master technician but lacks the warmth of a Vegee-Lebrun (sp). He is probably one of the artists the French Impressionists 50 to 75 years later rebelled against. One can see in his work the rigid precision that exemplified his personality.

elena maria vidal said...

Yes, Revolutionaries tend to be rigid and dogmatic in the extreme....

tubbs said...

I will keep my potty-mouth shut.
I will keep my potty-mouth shut.
I will keep my potty-mouth shut.
I will keep my potty-mouth shut.
I will keep my potty-mouth shut.
" " "
" " ""

elena maria vidal said...

Good boy.

May said...

Horrid little drawing of Marie-Antoinette.

tubbs said...

Well, he was a so-so illustrator and he definitely belongs in the Loo, but if I'm at the Loo, I'd rather look at Reuben's giant Comix, such as the one with Harry4 swooning over some Medici babe. That one cracks me up every time.

Unknown said...

Ahhh yes, the French Revolution; a bloody massacre.

If you look at how the American Revolution was played out and how the French Revolution was it's the complete opposite.

elena maria vidal said...

Yes, Matterhorn. David deliberately caricatured the Queen to make her look awful. What is amusing is that David once signed the death warrant of Rose de Beauharnais. She survived and later he painted her being crowned as Empress of the French.

Yes, Tubbs, I know what you mean (I think.)

Yes, Informer, the French Revolution was quite different from ours, which most Americans do not realize. And the result of the bloodbath was the Empire of Napoleon.

lara77 said...

I must admit I was never wild about his paintings; especially the coronation of Josephine and Napoleon. Later on when I realized his political leanings I KNEW why I disliked him so intensely; he stood for everything I despised.

elena maria vidal said...

I can't stand him as a man but I do like his portraits, especially that of Madame Recamier. I should have posted it....

P. M. Doolan said...

And whatever one thinks of him as a man or as a revolutionary, his "Death of Marat" is important as it became the iconic work in which the secular becomes sacred.

elena maria vidal said...

Excellent point!