In the history of art, Antoine Gro came in as a master, whose work brought significant changes to the battle genre, and also as one of the first artists whose works embodied in painting the image of a new hero of the Romantic era. Gro was born in Paris and received his first lessons in art from his father, a miniature artist, then studied with David and at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris.
In the era of Napoleon, Gro became an official painter of Bonaparte. Like his patron, eternally engaged in war and state affairs, the artist also hurried in his work, trying to have time to perpetuate the deeds of Napoleon, he did not have the opportunity to work on the picture for a long time.
In the painting “Bonaparte on the Arcole bridge on November 17” Napoleon is immortalized in the most difficult and decisive moment of the battle. He is depicted lifting the banner, coldly resolutely watching the troops, urging them to the last decisive throw, which brought the commander one of the most brilliant victories.
The image created by Gro was the most dynamic among all the images of Napoleon. This is one of the most striking images of the commander, in which for the first time in art the person of the New Era – the born romantic hero – was born. Other famous works: “Bonaparte visits the plague hospital in Jaffa and March 1799”. 1799. Louvre, Paris; “Napoleon in the Battle of Eilau on February 9, 1807”. 1807. Louvre, Paris.
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