Self Portrait 1790

Jacques Louis David painted this self-portrait in oil on canvas, sometime around 1794, while imprisoned in the Luxembourg Palace. As a leading artist of the French Revolution, and a member of the National Convention that voted to execute Louis XVI, David found himself on the wrong side of history when Robspierre fell. David was imprisoned twice after this, narrowly escaping execution himself. This portrait presents David as a gentleman, despite his political affiliations, and he is depicted holding a paintbrush, reminding us of his artistic skill. The portrait is a conscious effort to re-establish his identity and distance himself from the political turmoil of the revolution, portraying himself as a man of culture rather than a radical politician. Historians rely on sources like letters, political pamphlets, and institutional records, such as the minutes of the National Convention to understand the complex interplay of art and politics in revolutionary France. This helps us interpret David’s self-representation in this painting.