Jacques-Louis David at The Louvre, Paris

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Jacques-Louis David was a renowned French painter born on August 30, 1748, who dominated the Neoclassical style with his cerebral approach to history painting. His work marked a significant shift in taste away from Rococo frivolity and towards classical austerity, reflecting the moral climate of France's final years under the Ancien Régime. David became an ardent supporter of the French Revolution and befriended Maximilien Robespierre, who was instrumental in his rise to power as dictator of the arts during the French Republic. After Robespierre's downfall, David aligned himself with Napoleon I and developed his Empire style, characterized by warm Venetian colors. Following Napoleon's defeat and the Bourbon revival, David exiled himself to Brussels, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, where he remained until his death on December 29, 1825. As a highly influential painter, David had numerous pupils, making him the driving force behind French art in the early 19th century, particularly in academic Salon painting. David's facial abnormalities were reportedly caused by a severe sword wound he sustained during a fencing incident, which resulted in noticeable asymmetry and difficulties with eating and speaking. A distinctive scar on his left cheek is visible in his self-portraits and corresponds to damage to the buccal branches of the facial nerve, leading to impaired movement on his left side. Additionally, David suffered from a growth on his face that art historians have described as a benign tumor or possibly a granuloma or post-traumatic neuroma. Given the cultural importance of public speaking in 18th century France, this growth would have significantly hindered David's social interactions and led to him being nicknamed "David of the Tumor." This sculpture is part of Scan The World, a non-profit initiative by MyMiniFactory that aims to create a digital archive of fully printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the world. Anyone interested in contributing can email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how they can participate in this community-driven project.