Equestrian portrait of William, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765)

This fascinating equestrian portrait of William, Duke of Cumberland, is a unique example of Jacques-Louis David's early work, created in the unusual medium of reverse-painted and mirrored glass. While David is renowned as the preeminent Neoclassical painter, known for his grand history paintings like "The Death of Socrates" and portraits such as "Antoine Laurent Lavoisier and Marie Anne Lavoisier," this piece offers a glimpse into a less familiar facet of his career. Born in 1748, David would have been in his early twenties when this work was made, before he fully embraced the classical austerity that would define his mature style. His time studying in Rome, where he absorbed the influence of masters like Poussin and Caravaggio and explored classical antiquity, would later solidify his Neoclassical tendencies. This portrait, with its intricate technique, demonstrates an early versatility and a departure from the oil on canvas that characterizes much of his later, more celebrated output. It's a testament to the varied artistic landscape of the late 18th century, a period when tastes were shifting away from Rococo frivolity towards a more classical severity, a transition David himself spearheaded.