The Death of Bara
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.David’s portrayal of the death of the fourteen-year-old French revolutionary Joseph Bara was painted during a tumultuous period. Bara was killed in a skirmish with Royalists in 1793, and according to Maximilien Robespierre, had responded to the cry "Long live the king!" with "Long live the Republic!" David painted him expiring on the ground, naked and alone rather than in the midst of battle, forcing the viewer to confront the profound character of his sacrifice on behalf of the Revolution.
It is probable that this work was left unfinished, although that conclusion is sometimes debated. It is painted with a thin brown pigment pulled across the canvas in a technique called frottis found in other incomplete works by David. This haunting work remained in his studio until he died, after which it was identified as an ébauche (sketch), indicating that it was then considered unfinished.
It is probable that this work was left unfinished, although that conclusion is sometimes debated. It is painted with a thin brown pigment pulled across the canvas in a technique called frottis found in other incomplete works by David. This haunting work remained in his studio until he died, after which it was identified as an ébauche (sketch), indicating that it was then considered unfinished.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Death of Bara
- Artist: Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels)
- Date: 1794
- Geography: Country of Origin France
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 47 1/4 × 61 13/16 in. (120 × 157 cm)
Framed: 57 1/2 × 71 5/8 in. (146 × 182 cm) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Musée Calvet, Avignon, Gift of Horace Vernet, 1846
- Rights and Reproduction: © Musée Calvet - Bibliothèque, Avignon
- Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art