Jean Germain Drouais From The Art and Popular Culture
Encyclopedia Jean Germain Drouais (November 25, 1763 – July 15,
1788), French historical painter, was born at Paris. His father,
Francois Hubert Drouais, and his grandfather, Hubert Drouais,
were well-known portrait painters; and it was from his father
that he received his first artistic instruction. He was
afterwards entrusted to the care of Brenet, an excellent
teacher, though his own pictures did not take high rank. In 1780
Jacques-Louis David, who had just returned from Rome, opened a
school of painting in Paris, and Drouais was one of his earliest
and most promising pupils. He adopted the classical style of his
master, giving his days to study painting and spending a great
part of every night in designing. For weeks together it is said
that he never left his studio. In 1783 he was admitted to
compete for the great prize of painting offered by the Academy,
the subject being the Widow of Nain. After inspecting the works
of his fellow-competitors, howeve