Jacques-Louis David’s place in art history rests on the large-scale history paintings through which he captured the unfolding dramas of the French Revolution. He was also a meticulous draughtsman, setting down his ideas on paper and working through numerous revisions to his compositions before transferring them to canvas; these preparatory drawings have remained largely hidden from view, but they are now the focal point of this display the Met in New York (17 February–15 May), which begins with early sketches David made as a student in Rome, and also places preparatory sketches alongside the masterpieces on canvas they became. Find out more from the Met’s website.
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The Death of Socrates (c. 1786), Jacques-Louis David. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Death of Socrates (1787), Jacques-Louis David. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Paris and Helen (1786), Jacques-Louis David. J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Paris and Helen (c. 1786–87), Jacques-Louis David
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The many faces of Mary Magdalene