Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) was a French Neoclassical painter well-known for his politically and morally charged history paintings. His famous depiction of the French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1801), applies the conventions of academic history paintings to a contemporary subject. The painting celebrates Napoleon’s actual crossing in a highly idealized manner, depicting him much younger than he was and on a horse when in reality he had ridden a mule. The surrounding landscape strategically serves to center the authority of the heroic Napoleon: the rocks below are inscribed with the names of other prominent leaders, suggesting Napoleon’s similarity, and the pastel colors of the landscape contrast with the sharp blues and reds of his dramatically windswept attire.

Learn more about the work that inspired this pin HERE.