David, Jacques Louis << dah VEED, zhahk lwee >> (1748-1825), was the leading French painter during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. He painted primarily in the neoclassical style, which emphasizes solidly modeled forms, realistic details, and balanced composition. Neoclassicists often used subjects from ancient history to make observations about contemporary events. David’s famous painting The Oath of the Horatii (1784) reflects neoclassical style and subject matter.
David was an active participant in the French Revolution and voted for the death of King Louis XVI. He started to depict the events of the revolution in the unfinished The Oath of the Tennis Court, begun in 1791. In 1793, he painted The Death of Marat, a moving portrait of the assassinated revolutionary leader. An ardent supporter of Napoleon, David also glorified some of the main events of the emperor’s life in his paintings.
David was born in Paris. His work influenced many of the major artists of the 1800’s, including many members of the impressionist movement.
