From 15 October 2025 to 26 January 2026, the Louvre Museum is dedicating an exceptional retrospective to Jacques-Louis David, marking the bicentenary of his death. A central figure of Neoclassicism, an artist engaged in the political upheavals of his time, and an emblematic painter of the Napoleonic era, David shaped the visual imagination of an entire era. His paintings – Marat assassinated, Bonaparte crossing the Alps, The coronation of Napoleon – have become true icons, through which we continue to represent the Revolution and the Empire.
Rediscovering Jacques-Louis David
The exhibition, bringing together more than a hundred works from prestigious European institutions, offers a comprehensive overview of the career of an artist who lived under six different regimes and actively participated in the Revolution. Among the major loans are the famous fragment of the Oath of the Jeu de Paume, kept at Versailles, and the original version of the Marat assassinated, a masterpiece from Brussels. Far from mere neoclassical austerity, the exhibition reveals the expressive power and inventive richness of David, a painter of history but also a sensitive portraitist of a society in the throes of change.
Around the exhibition: cinema, performance and transmission
The tribute to David is not limited to the halls of the Louvre. Three cultural events extend and diversify the experience, inviting all audiences to engage with his legacy.
The cinema takes up the myth with the cycle From David to Kubrik (17–26 October). From Renoir to Rohmer, Gance to Kubrick, eleven screenings and discussions explore how the Revolution and Empire inspired filmmakers, echoing the imagery forged by David. The opening night pays tribute to Barry Lyndon, in the presence of Marisa Berenson and key figures in the history of the film.
Young audiences Is invited to discover The coronation of Napoleon as part of the family show Draw me a masterpiece (11 October). On stage, live drawing, music and storytelling combine to transform art into an accessible and poetic game.
Theatre and music bring to life a more intimate David with The Blade and the Brush (7–9 November). This production, performed by Benjamin Lazar, Judith Chemla and the Ensemble Les Lunaisiens, explores the memories of an artist caught up in the turmoil of the revolution, between historical figures and mythical characters. A meeting with the exhibition curators follows the performance.
Paris, setting for a shared Napoleonic heritage
As the site of the coronation and capital of the Empire, Paris remains a major centre of Napoleonic memory. As a member of the European Federation of Napoleonic Cities, it now offers a privileged setting to celebrate Jacques-Louis David and remind us how art has shaped our common vision of this founding period. Through the Louvre exhibition and accompanying events, the painter's bicentenary becomes an invitation to reflect on the role of images in the construction of European history.
Practical information
Exhibition : Jacques-Louis David
Dates 15 October 2025 - 26 January 2026
Location: Musée du Louvre, Paris
More information : https://www.louvre.fr/expositions-et-evenements/expositions/jacques-louis-david?utm_medium=email&utm_source=dolist&utm_campaign=newsletter_20250815_2728