GROS, ANTOINE-JEAN, BARON, one of the most distinguished of the recent French painters, was born at Paris in 1771. He was a pupil of David, and some of his earlier pictures are in the dry manner of that painter. One of his first works of note was 'Bonaparte on the Bridge of Arcola,' in the celebrated battle of that place, exhibited at the Louvre in 1801. In 1804 he exhibited his celebrated large picture of the 'Plague of Jaffa,' with Bonaparte visiting the sick, to whom he has given a most disgusting appearance, though the whole displays great vigour and power: it is now at Versailles : there is a large print of it by Langier. He painted also several other large pictures, as-the 'Battle of Aboukir ;' the ' Battle of the Pyramids ;" Napoleon visiting the Field of Eylau, after the Battle;' the 'Battle of Wagram ;' the ' Capture of Madrid by Napoleon ;' and other subjects from the history of France during the eventful years of the early part of this century. His masterpiece, however, is considered to be the Cupola of St. Genevieve,' at Paris, executed in oil, in 1824, and for which he was created Baron; it exhibits the saint as guardian of the throne of France, which is represented by Clovis, Charlemagne, St. Louis, and Louts XVIIL : but though gorgeous and effective, it belongs strictly to the school of ornamental art; the drawing is correct, and the colouring is florid, but the composition and expression are very ordinary.
The pictures of Gros generally are conspicuous for vigour and facility of execution, but they are at the same time extremely coarse, sometimes in treatment as well as handling; they show little or no delicacy of feeling, and they are void of all pictorial refinement of tone and modelling, and are equally void of sentiment. Perhaps 'Sappho leaping from the Promontory of Leucate,' on the island of Leucas, may be considered an exception to his prevailing style : there is a good print of it by Langier. Ilia picture also of the Visit of Francis I. and Charles V. to the Abbey of St. Denis' is executed in a very superior style to his bottle-pieces and similar large works : it has been admirably engraved by Forster. This and the 'Battle-field of Eylau' are In the Louvre. Gros has painted also some excellent portraits.
He died at Paris, June 26, 1835. He was professor of painting at the kende Royale des Beaux Arts; member of the Institute; officer of the bIgion d'Honneur ; and knight of the order of St. Michel.