Belisarius Begging for Alms
Jacques-Louis David · 1781
Why it's great
An old, blind general, once a great hero, begs on the street as a soldier recognizes him in astonishment. In the story, Belisarius was Rome's top commander who was treated unfairly. David painted it with clear and strong emotions. It's a lesson that glory can vanish.
Where to see it
📍 Palais des Beaux-Arts de LilleLille, France
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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Jacques-Louis David was born in Paris and became the greatest painter of the Neoclassical style, inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. He supported the French Revolution and later became Napoleon's official painter. After Napoleon fell, he was forced into exile and spent his last years in Brussels, Belgium. He taught many famous students and shaped French art for generations.
