Winner of the Rome Prize, academician, parliamentary representative in the National Convention, he became First Painter to the Emperor.
The Oath of the Horatii.Signed, situated, dated: L. David/faciebat/Romae/anno MDCCLXXXIV.
Commissioned by the Administrator of Royal Residences in 1784. Exhibited at the 1785 Salon under the title The Oath of the Horatii, between their Father's Hands. Louis XVI Collection. Crown Collection. Exhibited at the 1791 Salon. Property of the French State. The painting has been frequently reproduced in engravings.
A painted study is also on view at the Louvre (inv. RF 47). A large number of pencil studies also exist.
The subject heralded the examples of virtue and patriotism dear to the Revolution.
Paris, musée du Louvre (inv. 3692).
(C) Copyright Direction des Musées de France, 1994. Cliché Réunion des musées nationaux.