François Gérard

François Gérard's paintings combine likeness, dress, pose, and setting in commissioned portraits. Training in David's studio connects his work with French Neoclassical painting. In Madame de Talleyrand, furnishings and costume help establish the sitter's social position alongside attention to her figure and expression. Historical and classical subjects extend this practice beyond portraiture, while imperial commissions show how painted likeness could help construct a public image.