The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons
Jacques-Louis David · 1789
Why it's great
A Roman leader sits in the shadows, brooding, as his sons' bodies are carried in because he condemned them for treason. His wife and daughters are in anguish. David showed the hard cost of duty. It was exhibited in 1789 as the French Revolution began.
🏛️ Part of history
Founding of Rome & the Early Republic (753–264 BC) — Brutus, who helped found the Roman Republic, has condemned his own sons for plotting to bring back the king.
Where to see it
📍 Louvre MuseumParis, France
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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.
