Louvre Masterclass I : Neoclassicism — Jacques-Louis David and His World

A professional training session for licensed guides, cultural mediators, and heritage professionals.

This first Louvre Masterclass explores the rise of Neoclassicism through the masterpieces of Jacques-Louis David and his contemporaries.

Adopting a painting-by-painting approach, the session takes place entirely within the Louvre’s Salle David, allowing participants to examine each work in depth and understand the artistic, historical, and political ideas that shaped the movement.

Conducted directly in front of the paintings, the masterclass explores how artists of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries drew inspiration from antiquity, history, and civic ideals to redefine the role of art in society.

Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the visual language of Neoclassicism, the context of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods, and the relationships between the major works displayed in the gallery.

Through close visual analysis and discussion, the session will also explore practical approaches to interpreting these paintings and building a coherent narrative for museum audiences.

Practical Information

• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Location: Louvre Museum — Salle David
• Language: French
• Maximum 20 participants
• Audio equipment provided
• For licensed guides, cultural mediators, and heritage professionals
• Louvre admission is not included. Participants must have a valid admission ticket, Amis du Louvre membership card, licensed guide card, or another valid means of entry.

Led by

Guillaume Peigné — Art Historian | Lecturer | PhD in Art History

Guillaume Peigné holds a PhD in Art History, a Master’s degree in Modern Literature, and a Bachelor’s degree in History. His doctoral research focused on nineteenth-century French sculpture. After working for many years as a guide at the Château de Chambord, he taught art history at the Sorbonne (Paris IV), the École du Louvre, and Drouot Formation, where he continues to teach today. He has also taught for several American universities. Since 2010, Guillaume has worked as an independent lecturer and speaker, delivering conferences for museums, galleries, cultural institutions, and public venues throughout France. His research and teaching focus on Western art from the Renaissance to the Second World War, with particular attention to the relationship between artworks, historical context, and visual culture.