The artwork titled “Suzanne Le Peletier De Saint Fargeau” is a neoclassical portrait created by the renowned artist Jacques-Louis David. The genre of the piece is consistent with David’s commitment to portraiture, and the work’s execution exemplifies the Neoclassicist movement’s penchant for clarity, order, and a sober use of color.
In the artwork, the subject is depicted with a sense of intimate immediacy and a restrained elegance that is characteristic of David’s style. The young woman, Suzanne, is rendered with a detailed, lifelike quality, her face expressing a subtle mix of poise and perhaps a hint of melancholy. Her curly black hair frames her visage, accentuating her youthful features and thoughtful gaze. She is adorned in a white dress with a ruffled neckline, and over this, a sheer black shawl drapes around her shoulders, with a glimpse of an intricately embroidered border, adding a touch of opulence to the otherwise austere presentation.
The overall composition maintains a balance between the sitter’s emotional presence and the formal rigidity favored during the Neoclassical era. This work is a testament to David’s adeptness at capturing both the physical likeness and the inner life of his subjects. The year of completion, “1804,” is inscribed by the artist’s signature at the bottom of the artwork, grounding it in a specific historical context and connecting it with a time of considerable political and social transformation in France.
