The most sought-after society portraitist of his day, François-Pascal-Simon Gérard was born in Rome to a French father and Italian mother. At age twelve Gérard and his family relocated to Paris, where he was admitted to the Pension du Roi and shortly thereafter entered the studio of the sculptor Augustin Pajou. Two years later he transferred to the studio of the painter Nicolas Guy Brenet, and in 1786 enrolled at the studio of Jacques-Louis David, who became his protector. Gérard placed second in the Prix de Rome in 1789. He did not submit an entry the following year, having accompanied his mother and brothers to Rome after the death of his father. Upon returning to Paris in 1791, Gérard became David’s assistant and, with David’s help, was able to avoid enlisting in the army and declaring his political allegiance during the Revolution. In 1794 Gérard won first prize in the National Convention’s competition for The 10th of August, 1792, the painting for which LACMA’s sketch was preparatory. The artist’s immense success at the Salons of 1795 and 1798 secured his reputation, and by the turn of the century Gérard had become the most fashionable portrait painter in Paris. He enjoyed the patronage of Napoleon, but after the Restoration he accepted the patronage of Louis XVIII, whom he eventually served as court painter and who bestowed upon him the title of baron. Gérard designed book illustrations early in his career. Later, in addition to history paintings and portraits, he executed decorations for Napoleon and his court and contributed to the decoration of the Panthéon, in Paris (1820-36).