Belisarius Begging for Alms 1781

Jacques-Louis David's "Belisarius Begging for Alms" (1781) depicts the Roman general Belisarius, once a celebrated military leader, reduced to begging for charity. The painting showcases the artist's neoclassical style with its emphasis on historical accuracy and a dramatic, theatrical composition. Belisarius, blind and aged, is shown pleading for alms with a poignant expression, while a woman extends a hand to offer him a coin. The painting is a powerful reminder of the fragility of fortune and the humbling effects of time, and is located in the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, France.