David

1982

Central N6853 D27 SB27

New York: Alpine Fine Arts Collection

French chemist, Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier (1743-94), pictured here with his wife, Marie-Anne (1758-1836), is famous for recognising and naming oxygen and hydrogen, and describing their significance in combustion. He is also famous for changing chemistry from a qualitative to a quantitative science. Painted by the artist, Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825), this portrait was commissioned in 1788 by Marie-Anne, who was also a chemist and Lavoisier’s laboratory companion. She was an important collaborator in Lavoisier’s research, and their close relationship is depicted in the portrait. On the far left is a folio of Marie-Anne’s drawings (David was her drawing teacher), in which she recorded much of their work.