Curatorial Narrative Bayard Refusing the Presents of His Hostess, in Brescia, executed circa 1789 by Anne Louis Girodet-Trioson, exemplifies the Classical ideals of Neoclassicism. The artist’s employment of linear brushwork and a restricted palette of sepia tones imbues the composition with an air of solemnity, underscoring the subject’s adherence to honor and virtue. By situating Bayard in a Renaissance-inspired setting, Girodet-Trioson pays homage to the art historical precedents that informed his work while simultaneously asserting the contemporaneity of Neoclassicism. Upon enlargement, the chromatic structure of this oil on canvas assumes an even greater significance, with the muted tones of the subject’s attire and the somber hues of the backdrop assuming a more pronounced spatial rhythm. The atmospheric weight of the composition becomes more apparent as well, with the subtle gradations of light and shadow coalescing to creat