French Painting of the 19th Century in the National Gallery of Art

French painting in the nineteenth century unfolded amid fierce rivalries and shifting public taste. The book charts how the Academy, anchored in Jacques‑Louis David’s neoclassical ideal, imposed a sober, moralizing style while young artists risked their careers to break free. It reveals the clash between the disciplined draftsmanship of Ingres and the vivid, emotive rebellion of Eugène Delacroix, whose daring use of colour would echo through generations.

From the atmospheric landscapes of Camille Corot, who blended classical composition with Romantic feeling, to Honoré Daumier’s socially charged sketches rescued from obscurity, the narrative follows each painter’s struggle for recognition. Illustrated with the National Gallery of Art’s collection, the guide offers vivid descriptions of key works, situating them within the broader cultural upheavals of revolution, empire, and restoration. Listeners gain a sense of how personal ambition and historical forces shaped a century of French art.