Page:An Elementary History of Art.djvu/613

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Painting in France. 583 at Thermopylae. Although between this picture and the Sdbines the whole interval of the Empire intervenes, we may yet call them twin pictures. These works of David show all his good qualities and defects in the clearest light. On one hand, the fine subjects, noble sentiments, correct drawing, and chastened painting ; on the other, an academic stiffness, making the living beings look as if cut out in marble ; and in the execution a sad and monotonous colouring. Guillaume Guillon Lethiere (1760 — 1832), one of David's pupils, is represented in the Louvre by those enormous pictures, the Death of Virginia and Death of the Sons of Brutus. These paintings were exhibited in London in 1816 and received with much applause. Anne Louis Girodet de Roucy Trioson (1767 — 1824) gained the grand prix, and went to Rome. His most important works may be found in the Louvre — the Sleep of Endymion ; the Interment of Atala, describing a scene from Chateaubriand ; a Scene from the Deluge. Francois Gerard (1770 — 1837) was born at Rome. His celebrated group of Cupid and Psyche, and his Entrance of Henri IV. into Paris are in the Louvre. Baron Gerard, to whom many of the most illustrious characters of Europe sat for their likeness, was rather a portrait than an his- toric painter, and an intellectual man more than an artist of genius. Antoine Jean Gros (1771 — 1835) suddenly quitted the usual track, to open a fresh career for himself. He formed his style on his own country and time, and painted the men and the things before his eyes ; and introduced two fresh elements, too much neglected by the old school — colour and movement. The style of Baron Gros was an