The death of Marat

For the first time, we are offering an unprecedented approach to David's artwork by combining both historical and contemporary views, as well as a scientific approach by presenting to the public of the results of a research campaign that involved laboratory analyses. The exhibition is structured in three sections giving the public an new understanding of David's work. The first scientific section presents the results of the material and technical study entitled "face to face" conducted on "The death of Marat", which reveals for the first time the underlying sketch of the masterpiece. This research, carried out by the European Centre for Archaeometry of the University of Liège, is based on the use of scientific imaging techniques and non-invasive physico-chemical analyses carried out in situ. In a second, historical section, copies and ateliers variants conserved in Reims, Dijon, Paris and Versailles will be presented, as well as a version belonging to a French private collector. Finally, this section will be completed by contemporary interpretations by artists such as Thomas Houseago, Gavin Turk, Jean-Luc Moerman, or a work by Rachel Labastie, who shifts the focus from Marat to Charlotte Corday, the absent protagonist in David's representation.