![Léon Mathieu Cochereau - Interior of David’s Studio at the Collège des Quatre-Nations, Paris [1814-17]](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3887/14996830032_c0ce48f9d7_o.jpg)
A glimpse into the Paris studio of the famous painter Jacques-Louis David, this image shows 11 young men earnestly engaged in a life drawing and painting class. David stressed the importance of mastering drawing, his students, including the artist of this canvas, spent up to six hours a day sketching a live model.
Because David had supported the French Revolution of 1789, he had to retire from public life when the monarchy was restored in 1814. To avoid touchy political issues, Cochereau did not include the figure of David when he painted an image of his master’s studio for exhibition at the 1814 Paris Salon. Instead, he suggested David’s presence with the draped easel prominently placed before the window.
Cochereau was only 24 when he died at sea while on his way to Palestine. Consequently, he left few works behind. Two other versions of this painting are known, one in the Toledo Museum of Art, the other in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
[Musée du Louvre, Paris - Oil on canvas]