Anne-Louise Girodet de Roucy-Trioson (1767–1824) was a pioneering French artist whose career spanned a transformative period in French history, including the French Revolution, the Napoleonic era, and the Bourbon Restoration. Girodet was known for his innovative blend of intellectual rigor and sensuality, marking a departure from strict Neoclassicism and paving the way for the Romantic movement in art.

Girodet trained under the eminent Neoclassical painter Jacques-Louis David, becoming his star pupil. After winning the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1789, he moved to Rome, where he began developing his distinctive style. His work, characterized by imaginative compositions, dramatic lighting, and vibrant colour, often challenged the conventions of the French art establishment. Notable examples include The Sleep of Endymion (1791) and The Entombment of Atala (1808), both housed in the Louvre. Although he created several works glorifying Napoleon, including the Equestrian Portrait of Napoleon, Girodet eventually shifted focus from painting after inheriting a substantial fortune in 1815. He spent his later years on literary and architectural projects, earning the title of Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur in 1816.