The Portrait of Jeanbon Saint-André, created by Jacques-Louis David French, 1748-1825 in 1795, is a significant drawing reflecting the complex political landscape of Revolutionary France. The work was produced during a period of intense upheaval, shortly after the height of the Reign of Terror and the artist's own release from prison following the fall of Robespierre. Jeanbon Saint-André was a prominent figure in the Revolution, serving as a deputy and naval administrator, making him a compelling subject for the era's foremost Neoclassical master.
This study demonstrates David’s versatile draftsmanship, executed through a demanding mixed media technique. The artist utilized pen and black ink and brush and black ink, layering these elements with subtle washes of yellow ocher watercolor over an initial preparatory layer of graphite on cream laid paper. The combination of mediums allows for a highly resolved, almost painterly, finish while retaining the immediacy characteristic of revolutionary-era drawings. The intensity captured in the subject's gaze suggests the political gravity and personal toll of the late 18th century in France.
This profound example of portraiture is classified as a drawing and remains preserved in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a crucial document of the political elite during the Directorate period, the Portrait of Jeanbon Saint-André continues to be studied by scholars. Like many masterworks now in the public domain, high-quality archival prints of this pivotal piece are widely available for academic and educational purposes.
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