François Ier reçoit les derniers soupirs de Léonard de Vinci 1818

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres painted this oil on canvas depicting the death of Leonardo da Vinci sometime in the 19th century. It is a great example of French Romanticism and is concerned with expressing powerful emotions and dramatic historical moments. The painting shows the legendary Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci dying in the arms of the French King Francis I. The image creates meaning by representing the cultural reverence for art and artists. By immortalizing a great artist in the arms of the King, the artist represents art as having the patronage and support of the highest levels of society. To better understand the painting, we can research the cultural context of 19th-century France. For example, the French monarchy had been overthrown and replaced by a republic, and we might understand the painting as trying to recapture an ideal of French glory. We can better understand the artwork by understanding the social and institutional context that has shaped its production and reception.