Jacques-Louis David
French, 1748-1825
Portrait of Jeanbon Saint-André
INV-4426
Jacques-Louis David
French, 1748-18251795
Portrait of Jeanbon Saint-André
Jacques-Louis David French, 1748-1825 →pen and ink drawingsdrawings (visual works)
Date
1795
Medium
Pen and black ink and brush and black ink with yellow ocher watercolor over graphite, on cream laid paper
Dimensions
18.3 × 18.3 cm (7 1/4 × 7 1/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Helen Regenstein Collection
This penetrating character study of the artist’s friend and fellow French revolutionary, Jeanbon Saint-André (1749–1813), made while both were in prison, brilliantly captures the sitter’s political and moral beliefs through his intense and unflinching stare, defiantly crossed arms, and sober black frock coat and hat. At the same time, it recalls profile portraits on ancient coins, thus equating Saint-André and the revolution with the lofty ideals of the Roman republic. David’s handwritten inscription on the drawing reads: “A gift of friendship. Solace of affection. David made this in confinement in the third year of the French Revolution on July 28, 1795.”
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