| The Death of Chevalier Bayard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Benjamin West |
| Year | 1772 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, history painting |
| Dimensions | 221.6 cm× 179.1 cm(87.2 in× 70.5 in) |
| Location | Royal Collection, London |
The Death of Chevalier Bayard is a 1772 history painting by the Anglo-American artist Benjamin West. It depicts the death of Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard at the Battle of the Sesia in Italy in 1524. [1] Fatally wounded he had urged his retreating French soldiers to abandon him. He is show receiving the homage of his enemies, the troops of Charles V. [2]
It was one of a number of commissions West received from George III. Along with other neoclassical works, it was produced for a sitting room at Buckingham Palace. West received three hundred guineas for producing this and its pendant piece The Death of Epaminondas which also deals with courageous, stoic acceptance of a noble death. [3] These vertical paintings were designed to flank his celebrated The Death of General Wolfe . The theme of a wounded, dignified but defeated commander echoed the role played by Wolfe's adversary Montcalm at the Siege of Quebec. [2] The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition in 1773. Today it remains in the Royal Collection. [3]