Page "Jacques-Louis David" Paragraph 28

When Louis XVI was executed on 21 January 1793, another man had already died as well — Louis Michel le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau.

Le Peletier was killed on the preceding day by a royal bodyguard in revenge for having voted for the death of the King.

David was called upon to organize a funeral, and he painted Le Peletier Assassinated.

In it, the assassin's sword was seen hanging by a single strand of horsehair above Le Peletier's body, a concept inspired by the proverbial ancient tale of the sword of Damocles, which illustrated the insecurity of power and position.

This underscored the courage displayed by Le Peletier and his companions in routing an oppressive king.

The sword pierces a piece of paper on which is written ‘ I vote the death of the tyrant ’, and as a tribute at the bottom right of the picture David placed the inscription ‘ David to Le Peletier.

20 January 1793 ’.

The painting was later destroyed by Le Peletier's royalist daughter, and is known by only a drawing, an engraving, and contemporary accounts.

Nevertheless, this work was important in David's career because it was the first completed painting of the French Revolution, made in less than three months, and a work through which he initiated the regeneration process that would continue with The Death of Marat, David's masterpiece.