Jacques-Louis David

Jacques-Louis David - Neoclassical Style Painter, Birthday and Family

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Jacques-Louis David Biography Stories 

Jacques-Louis David's Personal Details

Jacques-Louis David was an eminent French painter belonging to the Neo-classical school

InformationDetail
BirthdayAugust 30, 1748
Died onDecember 29, 1825
NationalityFrench
FamousArtists, Miscellaneous, Neoclassical Style Painter
City/StateParis
Known asLouis David
Universities
  • Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture
Cause of death
  • Accident
Birth PlaceParis
GenderMale
Sun SignVirgo
Born inParis
Famous asNeoclassical Style Painter
Died at Age77

Jacques-Louis David's photo

Who is Jacques-Louis David?

Jacques-Louis David was a famous French painter best known for his Neo-classical style of painting which made him one of the foremost painters of his time. He started painting when the Rocco style was in vogue and is credited to have brought about a change in the artistic attitudes of people through his unique painting style and popularized neoclassicism. He also had an active interest in politics and served as the artistic director of the French Revolution for a brief time in 1789. He was primarily a painter of historical events though he was equally skilled at painting other genres. Painting was something he loved from a young age though he had to face a lot of opposition before he could pursue his passion professionally. Having lost his father at an early age, he was brought up by his architect uncles who pressurized him to follow in their footsteps. The boy rebelled and went on to create his own destiny and soon became a famous painter. He was a revolutionary who expressed his ideas through his paintings. Incredibly talented, he also possessed a volatile temper and was fiercely independent. A leading painter of his time, he also mentored several students, many of whom like Antoine-Jean Gros went on to become legendary painters themselves.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born into a wealthy family on 30 August, 1748, in Paris. His father was killed in a duel when David was just nine and he was sent to live with his uncles.

He had a facial tumor that impeded his speech and made it difficult for him to socialize. He loved drawing from a young age and used to draw behind his teacher’s back even when he was at school.

His uncles were rich architects and sent him to the prestigious Collège des Quatre-Nations. The uncles hoped that young David would follow their footsteps and become an architect himself. But the boy wanted to become a painter.

Rebelling against his family, he went to learn painting from François Boucher, one of the leading painters of the time. Boucher felt that his friend Joseph-Marie Vien would be a better teacher and sent David to him.

David then attended the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Each year the Academy awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome scholarship for which he diligently worked. After several failed attempts, he finally won it in 1774. The award funded a stay in Rome and he traveled to Italy with his mentor, Joseph-Marie Vien.

Career

In 1784 he painted the ‘Oath of the Horatii’ which depicts a scene from a Roman legend which stresses the importance of self-sacrifice for one’s country. The painting was an immediate success and became very famous.

He displayed the painting ‘Death of Socrates’ in the salon of 1787. The poignant depiction of Socrates’ last lecture before he consumes hemlock brew and dies struck a chord with the viewers and till date remains a favorite of critics.

Painted in the Neo-Classical manner, his ‘The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons’ (1789) shows the Roman leader Brutus grieving over the death of his sons who had ironically been killed at his own orders.

He painted ‘The Death of Marat’ in 1793, a painting which would go on to become a famous image of the French Revolution in which he took an active interest. The painting shows the journalist Jean-Paul Marat lying dead in his bath, murdered by Charlotte Corday.

Due to his political activities, he had been imprisoned in Luxembourg Palace in 1795 and there he conceived the idea to paint ‘The Intervention of the Sabine Women’ which was ultimately completed in 1799. It depicts the Sabine women interposing themselves to separate the Romans and Sabines.

He earned a commission to paint an image of Napoleon and painted ‘Napoleon Crossing the Alps’ in 1801 which was an idealized image of Napoleon crossing the Alps through the Great St. Bernard Pass in 1800.

He often expressed his revolutionary ideals in his paintings as was apparent in the 1810 painting ‘The Distribution of the Eagle Standards’ which depicts a ceremony arranged by Napoleon after he became the emperor.

His last painting was ‘Mars Being Disarmed by Venus’ which he began painting in 1822 and completed three years later.

Major Works

His painting ‘The Death of Socrates’ depicting the last moments of the great Greek philosopher is considered one of his masterpieces. The painting shows Socrates sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock, delivering his final lesson on death to his students as they watch him sadly.

Awards & Achievements

He was awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1774 for his painting ‘Erasistratus Discovering the Cause of Antiochus' Disease’.

He was been made a Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur in 1803 and promoted to a Commandeur de la Legion d’honneur.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1782 he married Marguerite Charlotte, the daughter of an influential building contractor. In fact, it was the wealthy contractor himself, who impressed by the young artist, had asked him to marry his daughter. This marriage brought financial security to David and the couple eventually went on to have four children.

He was struck by a carriage as he was leaving a theater in December 1825 and died a few days later on December 29, 1825.

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Jacques-Louis David biography timelines

  • // 30th Aug 1748
    He was born into a wealthy family on 30 August, 1748, in Paris. His father was killed in a duel when David was just nine and he was sent to live with his uncles.
  • // 1774
    David then attended the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Each year the Academy awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome scholarship for which he diligently worked. After several failed attempts, he finally won it in 1774. The award funded a stay in Rome and he traveled to Italy with his mentor, Joseph-Marie Vien.
  • // 1774
    He was awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1774 for his painting ‘Erasistratus Discovering the Cause of Antiochus' Disease’.
  • // 1782
    In 1782 he married Marguerite Charlotte, the daughter of an influential building contractor. In fact, it was the wealthy contractor himself, who impressed by the young artist, had asked him to marry his daughter. This marriage brought financial security to David and the couple eventually went on to have four children.
  • // 1784
    In 1784 he painted the ‘Oath of the Horatii’ which depicts a scene from a Roman legend which stresses the importance of self-sacrifice for one’s country. The painting was an immediate success and became very famous.
  • // 1787
    He displayed the painting ‘Death of Socrates’ in the salon of 1787. The poignant depiction of Socrates’ last lecture before he consumes hemlock brew and dies struck a chord with the viewers and till date remains a favorite of critics.
  • // 1789
    Painted in the Neo-Classical manner, his ‘The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons’ (1789) shows the Roman leader Brutus grieving over the death of his sons who had ironically been killed at his own orders.
  • // 1793
    He painted ‘The Death of Marat’ in 1793, a painting which would go on to become a famous image of the French Revolution in which he took an active interest. The painting shows the journalist Jean-Paul Marat lying dead in his bath, murdered by Charlotte Corday.
  • // 1795 To 1799
    Due to his political activities, he had been imprisoned in Luxembourg Palace in 1795 and there he conceived the idea to paint ‘The Intervention of the Sabine Women’ which was ultimately completed in 1799. It depicts the Sabine women interposing themselves to separate the Romans and Sabines.
  • // 1800 To 1801
    He earned a commission to paint an image of Napoleon and painted ‘Napoleon Crossing the Alps’ in 1801 which was an idealized image of Napoleon crossing the Alps through the Great St. Bernard Pass in 1800.
  • // 1803
    He was been made a Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur in 1803 and promoted to a Commandeur de la Legion d’honneur.
  • // 1810
    He often expressed his revolutionary ideals in his paintings as was apparent in the 1810 painting ‘The Distribution of the Eagle Standards’ which depicts a ceremony arranged by Napoleon after he became the emperor.
  • // 1822
    His last painting was ‘Mars Being Disarmed by Venus’ which he began painting in 1822 and completed three years later.
  • // 29th Dec 1825
    He was struck by a carriage as he was leaving a theater in December 1825 and died a few days later on December 29, 1825.

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Jacques-Louis David's FAQ

  • What is Jacques-Louis David birthday?

    Jacques-Louis David was born at 1748-08-30

  • When was Jacques-Louis David died?

    Jacques-Louis David was died at 1825-12-29

  • Where was Jacques-Louis David died?

    Jacques-Louis David was died in Brussels

  • Which age was Jacques-Louis David died?

    Jacques-Louis David was died at age 77

  • Where is Jacques-Louis David's birth place?

    Jacques-Louis David was born in Paris

  • What is Jacques-Louis David nationalities?

    Jacques-Louis David's nationalities is French

  • What was Jacques-Louis David universities?

    Jacques-Louis David studied at Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture

  • What is Jacques-Louis David's cause of dead?

    Jacques-Louis David dead because of Accident

  • What is Jacques-Louis David's sun sign?

    Jacques-Louis David is Virgo

  • How famous is Jacques-Louis David?

    Jacques-Louis David is famouse as Neoclassical Style Painter