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Which subjects did Jacques-Louis David paint during his exile in Brussels?
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Jacques-Louis David
Self-portrait by Jacques-Louis David, oil on canvas, 1794; in the Louvre, Paris.
During his exile in Brussels following the fall of Napoleon in 1815, Jacques-Louis David continued to work within the Neoclassical tradition. His output during this period primarily consisted of two types of subjects:
- Portraits: He painted various local patrons and fellow exiles living in Brussels.1
- Mythological Scenes: He produced several paintings inspired by classical mythology, such as Cupid and Psyche (1817), The Farewell of Telemachus and Eucharis (1818), and Mars Disarmed by Venus (1824).1
These late works marked a notable shift in his artistic focus, moving away from the political and moral themes that defined his earlier career toward a greater emphasis on sensuality, psychological expression, and the complexities of human relationships.1