The Death of Marat

[4] Jean-Paul Marat (24 May 1743 – 13 July 1793) was one of the leaders of the Montagnards, a radical faction active during the French Revolution from the Reign of Terror to the Thermidorian Reaction.

[citation needed] David sought to transfer the sacred qualities long associated with the monarchy and the Catholic Church to the new French Republic.

[citation needed] There was renewed interest in the painting after Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and Charles Baudelaire praised the work after seeing it at the Bazar Bonne-Nouvelle in 1845.

In the 20th century, David's painting inspired artists such as Pablo Picasso and Edvard Munch, poets (Alessandro Mozzambani) and writers (Peter Weiss' play Marat/Sade).

[citation needed] Brazilian artist Vik Muniz created a version composed of contents from a city landfill as part of his "Pictures of Garbage" series.

[11] The letter that appears in the painting, with blood-stains and bath water marks still visible, has survived and was owned by Robert Lindsay, 29th Earl of Crawford.

A copy of L’Ami du peuple stained with the blood of Marat
Detail of The Death of Marat showing the paper held in Marat's left hand. The letter reads " Il suffit que je sois bien malheureuse pour avoir droit a votre bienveillance " which translates to " It is enough that I am very unhappy to be entitled to your benevolence "
Charlotte Corday by Paul Jacques Aimé Baudry , painted 1860.
One of two versions of Death of Marat made by Edvard Munch in 1907