Jacques- Louis David was born in 1748 and died in 1825. He was an
influential French painter in the Neoclassical Style. At the time of
Napoleon I, he developed his Empire Style, famous for its use of warm
colours. He had a large number of pupils making him the strongest
influence in French art of the XIX century.
NAPOLEON AT THE SAINT-BERNARD PASS (1801)
IT is a painting made with oil colours and it can be admired in France
today in the Musée National du Chateau, in Malmaison. It shows
Napoleon who is riding his horse and who is crossing the Alps to conquer
Italy. The scene is stopped in the moment in which Napoleon is speaking
to his soldiers to encourage them before the conquest. The action is rapid
but painted with great care of details. Napoleon’s right hand is up, his
attitude is severe and his sight is determinate. He is wearing an elegant
uniform with golden elements. On the background, there are some rocks
and some soldiers pulling a cannon. The sky presents some clouds and it is
partly light blue, symbol of a successful enterprise to come.