Jean-germain drouais biography of christopher

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Jean Germain Drouais (November 25, 1763 – July 15, 1788), French historical painter, was born at Paris.

His father, Francois Hubert Drouais, and his grandfather, Hubert Drouais, were well-known portrait painters; and it was from his father that he received his first artistic instruction.

Jean-germain drouais biography of christopher columbus

He was afterwards entrusted to the care of Brenet, an excellent teacher, though his own pictures did not take high rank. In 1780 Jacques-Louis David, who had just returned from Rome, opened a school of painting in Paris, and Drouais was one of his earliest and most promising pupils.

He adopted the classical style of his master, giving his days to study painting and spending a great part of every night in designing. For weeks together it is said that he never left his studio.

In 1783 he was admitted to compete for the great prize of painting offered by the Academy, the subject being