Contemporaries called François Gérard “a painter of kings and a king of painters.” Such fame was brought to the master portraits of crowned individuals and members of high society. His models were graceful and strict, coquettish and elegant, courageous and significant. A talented artist wrote them as they wished to see themselves.
Gerard studied at the Royal Boarding School in Paris, later visited the workshops of the sculptors O. Pazhu and N. Brene, and then became a pupil of the famous J. L. David. In the early 1790’s, the artist, mainly for the purpose of earning, was engaged in book illustration.
In 1795, Gerard presented in the Salon picture “Belisarius, carrying his guide, stung by a snake” and in the same year wrote a portrait of “Artist JB Isabe with his daughter.” These works brought glory to the master. In his work, Francois Gerard relied on the traditions of classicism.
However, with the help of the strict language of classic painting, he uncovered romantic themes in the spirit, not only from modern times and history, but also from mythological themes familiar to classicism, such as in the picture “Cupid and Psyche.”
Other famous works: “Battle of Austerlitz.” 1810. The National Museum, Versailles; “The coronation of Charles X in Reims in 1825”. 1829. The National Museum, Versailles; “Portrait of Josephine, Napoleon’s Wife.” 1801. The Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
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