Artsz.org

The most noted painter of this period was Jacques Louis David. David was born in 1748 into a middle class family.

At 16 he began to study at the Academie Royale under the Rococo regime. On a trip to Italy he was influenced by the classical genre and soon began to develop his own style. Later he became known as one of the artists to record the French Revolution and was even elected to high office within the party. He was a good friend of Robespierre. Later, he was imprisoned because of crimes committed during the reign of terror. He was later released and became the official painter of Napoleon Bonaparte and created huge masterpieces such as the coronation.

During his life, David painted for the royalty first, then for radical revolutionaries during the French Revolution and in the end for the emperor Napoleon. His political allegiances changed, but he was always loyal to Neoclassicism and its values of harmony, simplicity and proportion.

One of his most famous pieces is the Oath of the Horatii which is a classic version of all things the neoclassical period represents, with classic representation of the ideal forms of the Roman art era and dramatic lighting.

Rococo is known as the art movement that took place in the 17th century and among the most famous painters of the movement were Jeane Antoine Watteau, François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Watteau’s work emphasizes the care free attitude of the times through his idyllic paintings and Boucher is known for his wonderfully designed tapestries.

Rococo pieces are noted most for the light colors, curvaceous forms, and graceful lines and Jeane Antoine Watteau was a master at his art form.

His compositions were innovative in style in that he always started with asymmetrical compositions, which contributed greatly not only to the Rococo style but to design in general. Through his art he became known as the inventor of the “Fetes galantes”. He painted idyllic scenes, with happy go lucky people dancing, enjoying themselves in beautiful settings.

This great artist is credited for renewing interest in color and movement within art. Jean Antoine Watteau’s was one of the main figures of the Rococo movement. Unfortunately, Jean Antoine Watteau’s art career was short lived. He was born in 1684 and named an associate of the French Academy in 1712. Unfortunately he died of tuberculosis in 1721 at a very young age. His work is know to epitomize the Rococo movement.