Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David Painting by Paul Meijering

Realistic painting in acrylic of Napoleon at Saint Bernard Pass by French painter Jacques-Louis David, painted by artist Paul Meijering - the original painting is 120 x 90 cm and available for sale.

Jacques-Louis David ( August 30, 1748 - December 29, 1825) was a French painter in the neoclassical style, considered the most prominent painter of the time. In the 1780s his cerebral brand of history painting marked a change in taste away from rococo frivolity to classical austerity and seriousness and heightened feeling, in harmony with the moral climate of the last years of the Ancien Régime.

David later became an active supporter of the French Revolution and friend of Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794), and was in effect a dictator of the arts under the French Republic. Imprisoned after the fall of Robespierre, upon his release he joined yet another political regime: that of Napoleon, the first consul of France. During this time he developed his Empire style, notable for its use of warm Venetian colors. After Napoleon's fall from imperial power and the Bourbon revival, David exiled himself to Brussels, then to the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, where he remained until his death. David had many pupils, making him the strongest influence in French art of the early 19th century, especially academic Salon painting.

This artwork is offered by Paul Meijering

For almost 33 years now, Paul Meijering has been active with the paint brushes. As a 17- year old inspired youngster he joined the Academy of Arts in Enschede (Holland) in order to receive a native training in drawing- and painting technique.

At that time (1980) the tendency of the abstract was running riot, and to his dismay and disappointment Paul found that the trade of the ancient masters was merely 'old hat', the realistic art being disregarded and looked down upon. After two years of useless botchery, there was only one conclusion to draw: 'get autodidact, be a self-taught person!' Paul then left the academy to work for a living, but at the back of his mind there always loomed the passion of his life: to paint. At his spare time he painted and his efforts are characteristic as far as man plays an important role are concerned, or to put it in his own words: 'Each human being tinkers at his own existence, it is the source of inspiration to explain the non-verbal by way of painting'.

The paintings attracted attention at various exhibitions and he was frequently approached by trades-people, hotel-keepers, merchants. These customers were for the most part interested in large wall-paintings and decorations. In the year 2000 the painter develops a speciality that's quite unique: he applies himself to paint football pictures. After a year he gets the chance to realize an open exhibition for an indefinite time as well with the Dutch Football Union 'KNVB' in Zeist as in

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