Jacques-Louis David (French, 1748 –1825) was the preeminent painter of the Neoclassical era, which marked a change in taste away from the frivolity of Rococo, (which had been championed by his teacher, François Boucher) and toward a cerebral and classical austerity. David also studied with Joseph-Marie Vien. In 2008, a record $7.2 million was paid for his Portrait of Ramel de Nogaret (1820) at a Christie’s auction.

David’s students include Francois-Edouard Picot,  Antoine-Jean Gros and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres.

Meryl Ann Butler studied with Harold Stevenson, 

who studied with Norman Rockwell, 

who studied with George Brant Bridgman, 

who studied with Jean-Léon Gérôme, 

who studied with Charles Gleyre, 

who studied with Louis Hersent, 

who studied with Jacques-Louis David.