Belisarius asking for alms Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825)
Jacques-Louis David – Belisarius asking for alms
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Painter: Jacques-Louis David
Location: Louvre (Musée du Louvre), Paris.
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Filled with tragedy, sadness, and human injustice, this painting by Jacques Louis David, the famous French Classicist painter, "Velizarius," was painted in oil, in 1781. The subject is imbued with sadness, sentimentality and compassion. It tells the story of the Byzantine glorified commander Velizarius, who was slandered and removed from service, condemning him to wander and poverty. He began his service in the imperial guard as an ordinary soldier.
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Description of Jacques Louis David’s painting Velizarius
Filled with tragedy, sadness, and human injustice, this painting by Jacques Louis David, the famous French Classicist painter, "Velizarius," was painted in oil, in 1781.
The subject is imbued with sadness, sentimentality and compassion. It tells the story of the Byzantine glorified commander Velizarius, who was slandered and removed from service, condemning him to wander and poverty. He began his service in the imperial guard as an ordinary soldier. During the course of his service before the war with the Persians, he already attains the high rank of commander.
Having been victorious, he was further entrusted with the most difficult battles in Africa against the Vandals. After this, the commander was charged with driving the Goths out of Italy, and he again succeeded in all his tasks. However, the war with the Persians was again restored, and Velizarius was again sent to Asia, where he finished the battles victoriously. But the Italians were not complacent and again began to provoke the Byzantines, but, in consequence of various intrigues, the emperor obliged him to retire for 12 years, and later ordered to blind the unhappy faithful servant of his. All his property was confiscated.
The painting depicts the moment of surprise of a passing warrior who recognizes in the blind old man the famous warlord who has been subjected to human ingratitude.
The outstretched arms of Velizarius, in desperation, ask for help and alms. The pleas for mercy tear the soul to pieces, and the heart exudes tears.
The poor man’s guide is a boy who sits with his helmet outstretched in his hand. The woman puts down alms, and the soldier in the background, palms up in amazement, is stunned by his unexpected encounter with his former commander. He is grief-stricken, hoping for the injustice of fate.
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The recipients of this plea are seated on what appears to be a low stone bench or dais. They are dressed in garments indicative of age and perhaps diminished circumstance – faded greens and browns, with touches of red that hint at former grandeur. The woman beside the man holds out a small coin, her expression a complex mixture of pity and guardedness. The man, presumably her husband, observes the scene with an air of quiet dignity, his gaze directed towards the supplicant.
Behind the central figures, a group of onlookers are positioned in varying degrees of engagement. One figure, draped in a vibrant red cloak, raises a hand as if in astonishment or disbelief. Others stand further back, their faces partially obscured, suggesting a wider audience witnessing this humbling moment. The architectural setting – a classical colonnade and distant mountains – provides a backdrop that reinforces the historical context, evoking a sense of antiquity and faded glory.
The subtexts within the painting are layered and resonant. The scene speaks to themes of loss, redemption, and the vicissitudes of fortune. The supplicant’s posture and attire suggest a fall from grace, perhaps a consequence of political upheaval or personal tragedy. His act of begging is not merely an appeal for sustenance but also a symbolic gesture of humility and acceptance of his diminished status.
The onlookers reactions add another layer of complexity. Their astonishment underscores the dramatic nature of the event, while their distance suggests a societal divide between those who have retained power and those who have lost it. The elderly couple’s response – the woman’s hesitant generosity and the man’s stoic observation – implies a recognition of shared humanity despite differences in circumstance.
The overall effect is one of poignant melancholy, prompting reflection on the fragility of human ambition and the enduring power of compassion.