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Erasistratus Discovering the Cause of Antiochus' Disease
Jacques-Louis David, 1774
Jacques-Louis David painted Erasistratus Discovering the Cause of Antiochus' Disease in 1774, years before the works that made him the leading painter of French Neoclassicism. The canvas belongs to the Beaux-Arts de Paris, the art school where David trained, and it offers a rare look at the artist as an ambitious student working within the conventions of the academy.
Where to see it
The painting is held by the Beaux-Arts de Paris, in Paris, France. The institution is an active art school as well as the keeper of a historic collection, so access to individual works can vary. Before planning a visit specifically to see this painting, check the Beaux-Arts de Paris official website for current display status, opening hours and any exhibition or visiting arrangements.
What to look for in person
A diagnosis told through gesture
The subject comes from an ancient story: the young prince Antiochus is wasting away from an illness no one can explain, until the physician Erasistratus realizes the cause is love for his stepmother, Stratonice, wife of his father, King Seleucus. The drama hinges on a moment of observation rather than action. In front of the canvas, follow the hands and glances of the figures. The painting asks you to read the story through gesture and expression, much as the physician reads the patient's body for the hidden truth.
David before his mature style
This is an early work, made in 1774 while David was still a student in the academic system and before his formative years in Rome. Visitors who know later paintings such as the Oath of the Horatii may notice a different temperament here: a more theatrical arrangement and a gentler handling than the austere, sharply focused compositions he became known for. Looking at it with that contrast in mind is one of the most rewarding ways to approach the picture, as it shows the starting point of a major career.
A history painting on a moderate scale
At 120 by 155 centimetres, the canvas is substantial but not monumental, a size that lets you take in the whole scene from a few steps back and then move closer for details. Step back first to see how the figures are grouped across the horizontal format, like actors on a stage around the sickbed. Then come closer to study faces, fabrics and the setting. The work was conceived as a demonstration of skill in history painting, the most prestigious genre in the academy of the time.
About the painting
Erasistratus Discovering the Cause of Antiochus' Disease is an oil painting by Jacques-Louis David dated 1774, measuring 120 by 155 centimetres, and held by the Beaux-Arts de Paris. It belongs to the earliest phase of David's career, when he was a student working toward the Prix de Rome, the academy's top prize for young painters, which granted a stay in Rome. This painting is widely associated with his winning of that prize after several earlier attempts, which helps explain why it remains in the collection of the school.
The subject is drawn from classical history. Antiochus, son of the Hellenistic king Seleucus, falls gravely ill, and the court physician Erasistratus discovers that the true cause is the prince's concealed love for his stepmother Stratonice. The episode was a favourite with painters because it turns on a psychological insight rather than a battle or miracle, allowing artists to show emotion, restraint and discovery in a single scene.
For visitors, the painting's interest lies partly in what came next. Within a little over a decade David would produce severe, clearly structured history paintings that defined Neoclassicism in France. Here, by contrast, you can see a young painter absorbing the academic training of his day, arranging a crowded, stage-like composition intended to impress a jury. Seeing it in the institution that shaped him adds context: this is a painting about learning to read signs, made by an artist still learning his craft.
Key facts
| Artist | Jacques-Louis David |
|---|---|
| Date | 1774 |
| Size | 120 × 155 cm |
| Medium | oil paint |
| Collection | Beaux-Arts de Paris |
How to visit: Beaux-Arts de Paris
, France
Hours and prices can change. Please check the official website before you go.
More by Jacques-Louis David
The Coronation of Napoleon — Louvre Museum
The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries — National Gallery of Art
The Intervention of the Sabine Women — Louvre Museum
The Death of Socrates — Metropolitan Museum of Art
Portrait of Madame Récamier — Louvre Museum
The Oath of the Horatii — Louvre Museum
Mars Being Disarmed by Venus