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The history and artistic development of the painter Antoine-Jean Gros is closely linked to the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. Until his first great success in painting, the artist followed a classical education. His father was also a successful artist and taught his son until he followed in his footsteps and slipped under the wings of Jacques-Louis David. The carefree times under the cloak of absolutist government came to an end. The political upheaval cast long shadows and financial hardships forced the young gros to produce pictures that were easy to sell. In this phase he produced numerous portraits and paintings with mythological content. The painter's connections to the aristocracy, which provided his wallet, forced him to flee to Italy after the revolution broke out.
1796 brought changes and the great artistic breakthrough for Antoine-Jean Gros. In Milan Gros met Napoleon for the first time. He commissioned the painting Napoleon on the bridge of Arcole. Gros enthusiastically produced two versions of the painting in a short time and from then on became the personal painter of the future statesman. Gros had exactly the desired feeling for a manner of depiction that depicted realistically and at the same time softened the brutality of the battles. Classicism was popular in Europe during the artist's creative period, an epoch that was partly accompanied by the Romanticism and the romantically transfigured view of the visual artists. Antoine-Jean Gros is a typical representative of these opposing views. The paradox between the horrors of the battlefield and heroic sentiment find unity in the works. This talent had a great influence on Romantic painters throughout Europe.
The stability in France was not lasting and so the years on the battlefield were followed by quiet times in Paris. The nobility had re-formed and Antoine- Jean Gros was awarded the title of baron. The artist remained true to his great compositions in the classicist style and the painting of portraits with the characteristic view between reality and romanticism.
The history and artistic development of the painter Antoine-Jean Gros is closely linked to the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. Until his first great success in painting, the artist followed a classical education. His father was also a successful artist and taught his son until he followed in his footsteps and slipped under the wings of Jacques-Louis David. The carefree times under the cloak of absolutist government came to an end. The political upheaval cast long shadows and financial hardships forced the young gros to produce pictures that were easy to sell. In this phase he produced numerous portraits and paintings with mythological content. The painter's connections to the aristocracy, which provided his wallet, forced him to flee to Italy after the revolution broke out.
1796 brought changes and the great artistic breakthrough for Antoine-Jean Gros. In Milan Gros met Napoleon for the first time. He commissioned the painting Napoleon on the bridge of Arcole. Gros enthusiastically produced two versions of the painting in a short time and from then on became the personal painter of the future statesman. Gros had exactly the desired feeling for a manner of depiction that depicted realistically and at the same time softened the brutality of the battles. Classicism was popular in Europe during the artist's creative period, an epoch that was partly accompanied by the Romanticism and the romantically transfigured view of the visual artists. Antoine-Jean Gros is a typical representative of these opposing views. The paradox between the horrors of the battlefield and heroic sentiment find unity in the works. This talent had a great influence on Romantic painters throughout Europe.
The stability in France was not lasting and so the years on the battlefield were followed by quiet times in Paris. The nobility had re-formed and Antoine- Jean Gros was awarded the title of baron. The artist remained true to his great compositions in the classicist style and the painting of portraits with the characteristic view between reality and romanticism.