Who painted Abundance and the Face of a Lion, from the Villa Pamphili?

Abundance and the Face of a Lion, from the Villa Pamphili was painted by Jacques-Louis David in 1778.

Where can I see Abundance and the Face of a Lion, from the Villa Pamphili?

Abundance and the Face of a Lion, from the Villa Pamphili is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Abundance and the Face of a Lion, from the Villa Pamphili?

Abundance and the Face of a Lion, from the Villa Pamphili is associated with Neoclassicism.

Artwork

Abundance and the Face of a Lion, from the Villa Pamphili

Jacques-Louis David , 1778

Abundance and the Face of a Lion, from the Villa Pamphili is a chalk drawing by the Neoclassicist artist Jacques-Louis David. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Abundance and the Face of a Lion, from the Villa Pamphili is a drawing by Jacques-Louis David, executed in 1778 using black chalk and gray wash on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a serene woman in flowing robes, seated with a basket of fruit, juxtaposed with the unexpected appearance of a lion’s face in the background, introducing a contrast between tranquility and wildness, suggesting themes of balance or underlying peril.

Technique & Style

David employed quick, expressive lines and soft gray wash shading to maintain a loose, sketchy quality, emphasizing spontaneity and emotional depth.

History & Provenance

Created in 1778, specific details about the drawing’s original context, ownership history, or exhibition record before its current location are not provided in the available information.

Context

This work reflects the artistic explorations of the late 18th century, where contrasts and emotional depth were increasingly valued, laying groundwork for later artistic movements.

Legacy

Abundance and the Face of a Lion influences the development of Romantic-era aesthetics, particularly in the use of stark contrasts to evoke complex emotions and narratives, as seen in the broader context of Romanticism.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacques-Louis David

Jacques-Louis David was born in Paris on 30 August 1748 into a bourgeois family; his father died in a duel when the boy was nine, and a maternal uncle guided his education.