Focus on Portrait of Madame Récamier and discuss the Influence.
Despite David's opinion, shared by most at the time, that portraiture was a lesser genre of painting, his works in the genre were widely celebrated among his contemporaries, many of whom posed as his subjects. Other portraits made in David's circle during the period exemplify the Neoclassical approach to portraiture. Portrait of a Young Woman in White depicts a fair, young Frenchwoman in Roman dress, adorned with a Roman pillar, sumptuous royal maroon draperies, and other historic elements offset by contemporary feminine qualities that would have been recognized by viewers. This piece is visually and thematically consistent with the techniques used in the 1800 painting of Madame Récamier.
Because of her prominence in French society, Madame Récamier was painted by many artists. François Gérard created several portraits of her, including an 1805 portrait and an 1829 crayon noir. The 1805 portrait bears similarities to David's composition, yet is more saccharine and feminine, and emphasizes the Roman influences with a background of such architecture and garments.The work is not as coyly coquettish as David's; Récamier directly addresses her audience, gazing into the viewer's eyes with a downturned, sweet smile that radiates the gracefulness of her soft demeanor. Additionally, Antoine-Jean Gros produced a portrait of her later in life, from the year 1825, wherein she is depicted in the Romantic style in elaborate costume and coy position, consistent with previous portraits of her yet respecting her graceful aging.
David, Gros, and Gerard were not the only artists to use Madame Récamier as a subject; the terracotta bust by Joseph Chinard of the Parisian socialite from 1801 similarly captures her elegance. Here, she conceals her left breast while exposing her right, evoking a coquettishly feminine demeanor. The juxtaposition established here between the figure of the classical nude and the suggestion of sexual behavior is the essence of this Neoclassical revival.
Romantic Antoine-Jean Gros François Gérard lesser genre of painting Paris