Boucher, Francois

Madame de Popadour, c. 1758

Historical fact: shows the sumptuously dressed mistress of Louis XV reclining elegantly on a couch. Her celebrated beauty is offset by the flowers, ribbons, lace and jewels of her costume, while her considerable intellectual interests are hinted at through the inclusion of the book and her writing desk. Boucher painted a series of portraits of Madame de Pompadour, born Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, who became one of the most influential and powerful figures of the French court.  

Chardin, Jean-Baptiste

Grace at Table/Benediction, 1740

Historical fact: Unlike other genre painters of the time, Chardin portrayed women with dignity and gave them an important role in the perpetuation of family values. Also valued were children, who represented hope for a better society.

David (Jacques-Louis)

Coronation of Napoleon, 1808
Neoclassical

Historical fact: Napoleon ordered David to paint his mother in even though she did not attend

David (Jacques-Louis)

Death of Socrates, 1787

Neoclassical

Historical fact: David initials under Plato signify that the story comes from Plato, and this is Davids way of thanking him for the inspiration. His fuller signiture under Crito means he identifies most with this character.

David (Jacques-Louis)

Death of Marat, 1793

Neoclassical

historical fact: The Death of Marat has often been compared to Michelangelo's Pietà.

David (Jacques- Louis) 

Napoleon in His Study, 1812

Neoclassical

Historical fact: The burning candle almost out, the light coming in from dawn and the clock all imply that Napoleon has been up all night for the good of France

David (Jacques-Louis)

Oath of the Horatii, 1784

Neoclassical

Historical fact: Although it was painted nearly five years before the revolution in France, the Oath of the Horatii became one of the defining images of the time.

Delacroix (Eugene)

Barque of Dante, 1822

Neoclassical and Romanticism

Historical fact: One of the works signalling a shift in the character of narrative painting from Neo-Classicism towards the Romantic movement.

Delacroix (Eugene)

Massacre of Chios, 1824

Romanticism

Historical fact: Delacroix uses a quick, blurred, brushtroke, creating the impression of desolation. 

Delacroix (Eugene)

Portrait of Paganini, 1820 

Romanticism

historical fact: Lack of technicality shows respect for his fellow artist. 

Delacrois (Eugene) 

Death of Sardanapalus, 1826

Romanticism

Historical fact: this painting was inspired by Lord Byron's Play.

Drouais (Jean Germain)

Marius at Minturnae, 1786

Neoclassical

Historical fact: Drouais studied under David

Gerard (Francois) 

Cupid and Psyche, 1798

Neoclassicism evolving

historical fact: Ingres thought the painting was on of the most beautiful of the French School. 

Gérard (Francois)

Madame Recamier, 1800

Romanticism

Historical Fact: In 1800 Jacques-Louis David began his portrait of her, but never finished after learning Gérard had been commissioned to paint the portrait first.

Géricault (Theodore)

Officer of the Imperial Guard, 1812

Romanticism

Historical fact: Géricault's first exhibited work.

Géricault (Theodore) 

Raft of Medusa, 1819

Romanticism

Historical fact: Géricault interviewed two of he survivors, and constructed a detailed scale model of the raft, along with other exstensive research.

Girodet-Trioson, Anne-Louis

The Burial/ Entombment of Atala, 1808

Romanticism

Historical Fact: Girodet was a favorite pupil of David. 

Girodet-Trioson, Anne-Louis

Endymion, 1793

Romanticism

Historical fact: Girodet broke with David by painting the romantic figure of Endymion.

Girodet-Trioson, Anne-Louis

Ossian Receiving Napoleonic Officers, 1802

Roanticism

Historical fact: Intended to honor the memory of the French republican officers who had died for their contry, and to celebrate and imminent peace after ten years of Revolutionary war.

Greuze (Jean-Baptiste)

The Return of the Prodigal Son, 1778

Anti-Rococo

Historical fact: The intellectuals of the day were generally opposed to rococo art style and considered it's style decadent, and in turn looked upon Greuze as "the painter of virtue, the rescuer of corrupted morality."

Gros (Antoine Jean)

Battlefield at Eylau, 1808

Romanticism

Historical fact: Gros breaks with the neo classicism traditions of his master David. 

Gros (Antoine Jean)

Napoleon at Arcole, 1796

Romanticism

Gros (Antoine Jean) 

Napoleon in the Pesthouse at Jaffa, 1804

Romanticism

Guerin (Pierre-Narcisse)

The Return of Marcus Sextus, 1799

Neoclassical

Historical fact: Triumph at the Salon

Houdon (Jean-Antoine) 

Denis Diderot, 1773

Neoclassical

Historical Fact: Critics at the 1771 Salon showered praise on the work, which prompted Houdon to exhibit a arble version at the salon of 1773

Ingres (Jean-Auguste-Dominique)

Ambassadors of Agamemnon in the Tent of Achilles,1801

Neoclassical

Historical fact: Won the Grand Prix de Rome in 1801

Ingres, J.A.D

Apotheosis of homer, 1827

Neoclassical

Ingres (J.A.D)

Francois-Marius Granet, 1807

Neoclassical

Ingres (J.A.D) 

Grade Odalisque, 1814

Shift to Romanticism

Historical fact: Signifies Ingres' break from Neoclassicism indicating a shift toward exotic Romanticism.

Ingres (J.A.D)

Napoleon I on His Imperial Throne, 1806

Neoclassical

Historical Fact: Ingres was inspired by Jan van Eyck

Ingres (J.A.D)

Drawing of Paganini, 1819

Historical Fact: The two friends had performed together. 

Ingres (J.A.D)

Madame Riviere, 1805

Ingres (J.A.D)

Valpincon Bather, 1808

Historical fact: It took 50 Years for critics to appreciate this.

Rigaud (Hyacinthe)

Louis XIV, 1701

Baroque

Historical fact: Most importaint portrait painter during the reign of Kind Louis XIV

Vien (Joseph-Marie)

The Cupid Seller, 1763

Neoclassical

Vigee-LeBrun (Elisabeth Louise)

Marie-Antoinette and Her Children, 1787

Historical fact: Most important feamil painter of the 18thC