Page "Jacques-Louis David" Paragraph 67

Despite David's reputation, he was more fiercely criticized right after his death than at any point during his life.

His style came under the most serious criticism for being static, rigid, and uniform throughout all his work.

David's art was also attacked for being cold and lacking warmth.

David, however, made his career precisely by challenging what he saw as the earlier rigidity and conformity of the French Royal Academy's approach to art.

David's later works also reflect his growth in the development of the Empire style, notable for its dynamism and warm colors.

It is likely that much of the criticism of David following his death came from David's opponents ; during his lifetime David made a great many enemies with his competitive and arrogant personality as well as his role in the Terror.

David sent many people to the guillotine and personally signed the death warrants for King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

One significant episode in David's political career that earned him a great deal of contempt was the execution of Emilie Chalgrin.

A fellow painter Carle Vernet had approached David, who was on the Committee of Public Safety, requesting him to intervene on behalf of his sister, Chalgrin.

She had been accused of crimes against the Republic, most notably possessing stolen items.

David refused to intervene in her favor, and she was executed.

Vernet blamed David for her death, and the episode followed him for the rest of his life and after.