A study of Jacques-Louis David, chronicler of the French Revolution.

Argues that Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825), participant in and chronicler of the French Revolution and painter to Napoleon, was the single most important painter of the age.
The first book to trace all aspects of David`s career, from his intellectual interests to his entrepreneurial skills and his relationships with patrons.
Sets the artist in the context of Bourbon, Revolutionary, Napoleonic and Restoration France and discusses all the current scholarly debates about David.

A participant in and chronicler of the French Revolution, Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) also witnessed the rise of Napoleon, painting a series of works glorifying his reign. Simon Lee`s book is the first to deal with all aspects of David`s career and character and to trace his changing relationships with patrons. This is a fresh analysis with an abundance of new insight.