David Dangers, Pierre Jean

Born Mar. 12. 1788. in Angers, Anjou; died Jan. 5, 1856. in Paris. French sculptor and medallionist.

In 1808, David began studying under J. L. David and P. L. Roland in Paris. From 1811 to 1816 he studied at the Académie Française in Rome. At first he was influenced by A. Canova, but then his work gradually became more romantic. David’s medallions (more than 500) and busts (J. W. von Goethe, marble, 1831, Goethe National Museum. Weimar) are notable for their emotion and sharp individualization of portraits: the overall chiselled quality of form is combined with a pictorial modeling of individual details. His monumental sculpture (such as the statue of L. de Conde, marble. 1816–27, Versailles) is suffused with energetic movement. David also executed the reliefs on the pediment of the Pantheon in Paris (1830–37). In his public statements he insisted on the patriotic and moral mission of art. Because he took part in the Revolution of 1848. David lived as an émigré in Belgium and Greece in the years 1851–52.