The Coronation of Charles X

historical

This is a case where a comparison will give a good idea of how differently the same subject was handled by Jacques-Louis David and one of his numerous pupils. The pupil was François Gérard who was also commissioned to paint a coronation, that of Charles X in 1827. The heavy draperies of the baldachin (brocade canopy), the costumes and the sweeping gestures look back to the Baroque, as might be expected at the Restauration.

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About the Artist

François Gérard

1770 – 1837

French painter, born in Rome, a favourite pupil of Jacques-Louis David. In the Salon of 1796 he won acclaim with his portrait of Jean-Baptiste Isabey and his Daughter (Louvre, Paris) and became the most sought after court and society portraitist of his day. He successfully negotiated the various political changes of the day and was made a Baron and a member of the Legion of Honour. In addition to portraits Gérard painted historical and mythological works. His style derived from David, but was much less taut and heroic, tending at times towards a rather mannered gracefulness.

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