260 
misfortune of a man who, with a heated 
brain and a glowing imagination, ingulphs 
himéelf in the vortex of politics, and pro- 
ceeds fo fer as to enlift under the ban-» 
ners of a revolutionary government, ef- 
pecially at a feafon when all the paffions 
of the human heart are fet free from every 
reftraint, and engaged in tumultuous con- 
fii&: in fuch afituation his reafon is be- 
wildered. 
The credulous David fuffered himflf 
to be deceived by the impofing mafk 
which fcreened the hypocrily of Rebef- 
pierre: his untutored fancy, incapable 
of entering into cool examination, viewed 
“him as the zealous patriot, the faviour 
of his country; the truely great man. 
How great his blindnefs! Robefpierre, 
under the appearance of friendfhip, and 
with: abilities well calculated to give him 
an afcendency over his partifans, was en- 
deavouring to promote his own Views by 
means of the friendfhip of David, whofe 
fuperior talents rendered him a character 
of importance; and David fell into the 
{mare laid for him by the craity tyrant. 
Even his tafte as an artift, which had 
formerly been fo chatte and pure, became 
vitiated at this period, and degenerated 
intoa coleffal and ridiculous ftyle. Every 
one is acquainted with David’s monftrous 
projects tor the monuments of liberty, 
and his taftelefs plans for the national 
feftivals. . On every point refpetting his 
art, his decifions were revered as laws ; 
and in that fphere he reigned. uncon- 
trouled. He was hurried away by poli- 
tical fanaticiim. 
There is great truth in the obfervation 
of Roufleau, *when he {ays in his « Con- 
feffions,” that there are, in the life of 
tan, certain moments of temporary ali- 
enation of mind, which are not to be con- 
fidered as furnifhing data, whence to pafs 
judgement and condemnation on him. 
Why fhould we not apply this maxim in 
favour of David? At the time in quef- 
tion, he a¢ted as a man under the influ- 
ence of phrenfy ; but his conduét was not 
actuated by avarice, as was that of many 
other agents in the revolution. David is 
reproached with having placed himfelr at 
the head of the Icanoclafis* through pro- 
feffional jealoufy, with a view to deftroy 
the antient mafter-pieces of art which 
furpafied his own abilities. This charge 
I leek upon as ridiculous and void of 
foundation, fo far, at leaft,as I have had 

* Image-breakers.—T he name was formerly 
given toa fe& of Chrittians, who admitted 
gO images in their places of worthip. 
& 3 K 3 2 
Anecdotes of the Painter David. 
the 
[Sept. 
opportunities. of knowing the character 
and difpofition of David, from whofe 
mouth I have often heard encomiunis be- 
ftowed on othér artifts, even on thofe of 
foreion birth: but it cannot be denied, 
that, by the exertion of his ixffluence, he 
mighthave put an earlier op to the rage 
of the Parifian Iconoclafts. Another ac- 
cufation againft him is, that he took a 
bafe advantage of the intereft he enjoyed 
with  Robefpierre, for the purpofe of 
keeping various artiits confined to’ ian- 
guifh in dungeons, and even of caufing 
feveral to be condemned to the guillotine. 
So, indeed, fome people fay; but not a 
fingle individual has ever yet been able 
to furnifh me with convincing proofs in 
fupport of the enormous charge, when I 
called for them. The great fuperiority 
which David poffefles as an artilt, gives 
confiderable pain to many of his fellow- 
inmates of the Louvre, who are not qua- 
lified to cope with him; and that jealous 
feeling on their part renders them the 
more.pertinacioufly induftrious in black- 
ening his charatter by the moft odious 
afperfions. But it would be taking a 
cifadvantageous ground, to attempt com- 
bating the opinions, whether trueor falfe, 
which paflion has excited againft that 
man, who indeed has but too often laid 
himfelf open to the fhaits of obloquy. 
IT cannot venture to undertake his de- 
fence : wherefore I. proceed to confider 
him only as the great painter, in which 
character I-can foeak of him with feel- 
ings of fuperior intereft. 
Atfirft, David declined the honour con- 
ferred on him by the Direftory in nomi- 
nating him a member of the National In- 
ftitute of Sciences and Arts, becaufe he 
dreaded to find himfelf ence more in- 
volved in the dificulties ef a public em- 
ploy ; but being given to underitand that 
no conneétion exilied between politics and 
the’ fine arts, he accepted the appoint- 
‘ment, and never mified a fingle fitting of 
the clafs to-which he belonged. » His ta- 
lent and his pupils had fcreened him from 
guillotine after the fall of Robef- 
pierre, and the only misfortune he ex- 
perienced on the occafion, was that-of im- 
prifonment. 
David’s painting-room inthe Louvre 
‘is the fineft and mef brilliant mufeum of 
the arts. The ftucco ‘walls, clouded in 
imitation of polifhed marble, are orna- 
mented with baffo-relievos, with bufts, 
and antique ornaments.—All around, im 
apparent diforder, are placed cafts of 
Grecian ftatues; and his two great hif- 
toric pictures, the Brutus and the Hora- 
til, 
