No 8. Jacques-Louis David (French, 1748-1825)

A deputy in the French parliament during the Revolution, later "Dictator of the Arts", and later still an ardent supporter of Napoleon, Jacques-Louis David was the foremost history painter of the neoclassical movement, which sought to reimpose classical gravitas and heroicism on the whimsical, decadence of decorative rococo, and finally cauterize the influence of the baroque. A great admirer of Raphael and Poussin, his contribution to history painting includes masterpieces like The Oath of the Horatii, The Death of Socrates, and the Death of Marat, each one exuding a heroic dignity aptly presented in an exact but understated academic style. The complete opposite of Tiepolo. Was a great influence on other French painters like Gerard, Girodet, Gros, Navez and Jean-Auguste-Domique Ingres. See also:Neoclassical Painting.

Famous History Paintings by Jacques-Louis David
- Oath of the Horatii (1785) oil on canvas, Louvre
- Death of Marat (1793) oil on canvas, Musee Royaux des Beauxarts, Brussels
- Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1801) oil on canvas, Louvre, Paris