French artist Jacques-Louis David is in many respects the hero of Neoclassical art. His somber, serious works represent the ideals of a style that often aspired to high-minded statements. Indeed, David perfectly captured the mood of the time in which he lived and worked in many of his paintings.

As the word Neoclassical suggests, much of the inspiration for this style came from the Classical world of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The art of these civilizations was thought by many during this period to represent the height of artistic achievement. And it was not only the appearance of these ancient works of art that appealed to painters such as David - the subjects also caught the attention of Neoclassical artists. Therefore, it is not surprising that many objects and paintings created in the Neoclassical style were inspired by ancient Greek and Roman characters, myths, and stories.