French Neo-Classical painter Jacque Louis David (1748-1825) was the most prominently influential artist of his time and the only great master to emerge between the Rococo and the Romantic era. An active revolutionary with Robspierre, David gained prominence with Napolean’s rise to power when he became the official court painter and literally defined the style of the era. Famous for his Empire style, he featured warm Venetian colors in a rebellion against Rococo fantasy which resulted in innovative compositional departures. After the Bourbon monarchy reclaimed the throne, he was exiled to Brussels where he took on many students and continued to paint.

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