David (1748-1825) saw his art as a weapon for social change. This film traces his career from his youth, as a Student of Boucher, through his heavy involvement in the politics of the French Revolution, to his exile in Brussels. Drawing on the memoirs of his pupil Delecluze and other historical documents, it provides a fascinating insight into the world of late eighteenth-century French society.
Jacques-Louis David
David (1748-1825) saw his art as a weapon for social change. This film traces his career from his youth, as a Student of Boucher, through his heavy involvement in the politics of the French Revolution, to his exile in Brussels. Drawing on the memoirs of his pupil Delecluze and other historical documents, it provides a fascinating insight into the world of late eighteenth-century French society.
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
Ingres (1780-1867) presents a paradox – admired by many but loved by few, he was called reactionary and opposed the new Romanticism. Yet many who followed in the footsteps of his arch rival Delacroix found inspiration in Ingres’ work. Demonstrating the diversity of his art and the flexibility of his style, this film considers his reaction against the artistic changes of his day. It uses contemporary documentation and Ingres’ words and paintings to investigate the enigma he presents.
Theodore Gericault
Now recognised as one of the greatest artists of his generation, Gericault (1791-1824), the first of the French Romantics, died tragically young. Side-tracked by the magnificent preliminary studies he made, he failed to complete many epic projects and his contemporaries thought he would soon be forgotten. This film centres on his biographer Charles Clement’s posthumous investigation of his life. It shows the richness of Gericault’s work, set against the background of his day.