Gericault, Theodore, 1791-1824

Biography

Gericault grew up with Napoleon's triumphs and reached maturity at the time of the empire's decline, dying after only 12 working years in the troubled early period of the Restoration. He was frequently ill, probably with tuberculosis. He also suffered several riding accidents and seemed self-destructive in terms of endangering his health and making unwise financial speculations and expenditures. When he died, he was known to the public only by the three paintings he had exhibited at the Salon in Paris. He had also been active in London. He left behind 200 paintings and 1600 other works that made him famous posthumously and were influential to later artists. His style is characterized by an attempt to depict contemporary events in a grand scale and emotional tone, using influences of both the Romantic and the Neo-classical styles to create an individual style of his own. Comment on works: history, genre, Portraits, animals

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