GROS, Antoine-Jean
(b. 1771, Paris, d. 1835, Meudon)

The Battle of Abukir

1806
Oil on canvas, 578 x 968 cm
Musée National du Château, Versailles

Gros was the forerunner of the later Romantic school, but he forced himself to sustain David's heritage and counter the Romantics, although he had himself inspired them. The comparison of works depicting a large number of figures by David (e.g. The Intervention of the Sabine Women), by Delacroix (e.g. The Massacre of Chios) and by Gros' The Battle of Abukir demonstrates that Gros led the Romantic movement.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 12 minutes):
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber: The Battle, suite