Art enthusiasts and history lovers can get a dose of Neoclassical splendor without spending a dime this June. The Jefferson Parish Library is gearing up to host a free lecture on influential French artist Jacques-Louis David, known for works like "The Death of Marat" and "Napoleon Crossing the Alps." Cyril Lagvanec, PhD, curator of the American-Italian Research Library, will be the speaker at the event taking place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, at the East Bank Regional Library.
The East Bank Regional Library located at 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie, is offering this cultural treat available to the public without the need for registration. With the swing back to classical rigor from Rococo's elaborate decor, David's contribution to the art world carries a legacy of historical gravitas, which Lagvanec, an expert stationed above the second floor in the library, will unfold. The Jefferson Parish Library announcement promises an insightful dive into David's life and works.
David's most notorious piece, "The Death of Marat" (1793), captures the aftermath of French Revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat's assassination, presenting it in a poignant and politically charged tableau. The painting underscores David's alignment with revolutionary values, an allegiance that later led to his exile post the fall of King Louis XVI—a fact that eventually saw him dying in Brussels, and only his heart returning to French soil to rest at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
Despite his controversial political involvement, David's work has transcended the ages, allowing us to reflect on the connective tissue between art and ideology. Having been buried in both Brussels and Paris, with his heart remaining in France as a symbol of his undying love for the country, attendees can expect to hear about these fascinating, and ultimately human aspects of David's life. Said excavation of David's legacy is poised to be as intricate as the detailed neoclassical works he left behind, which Lagvanec will explore in his talk, as evidenced by the detailed announcement provided by the Jefferson Parish Library.
