David J O'Brien

David J O'Brien is a Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with primary appointments in the School of Art and Design (Department of Art History) and secondary appointments in French and Italian, the European Union Center, and the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. He has been a faculty member since earning his Ph.D. in 1995.

Education:

• B.A. from Harvard University (1984)
• M.A. from the University of Michigan (1990)
• Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1995)

Professor O'Brien specializes in 18th and 19th century French art, examining the works of Jacques-Louis David, Antoine-Jean Gros, Théodore Géricault, and Eugène Delacroix. His research investigates the relationship between art and politics, particularly in the context of the Napoleonic era and the representation of war. He also explores French artistic engagements with North Africa and the Middle East, contributing to discourses on Orientalism and cultural exchange. His scholarly approach combines art historical analysis with insights from global studies.

O'Brien's recent publications (2022-2025) center on Napoleonic art and its enduring legacy, including studies on relics, war, and loss in Romantic art. His book chapter in The Cambridge History of the Napoleonic Wars and articles in Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide demonstrate his expertise in cultural memory and the global contexts of European art. The works reflect a consistent focus on the interplay of art, politics, and historical narrative, with increasing attention to the material culture of the Napoleonic era.

Professor O'Brien has received numerous awards and fellowships, including:

• Institute for Advanced Study Membership (Princeton, 2007)
• Center for Advanced Study Associate (UIUC, 2007)
• Mellon Grant for Conference on Defining American Art (2005)
• Peter Norton Family Foundation Grant (2004)
• Center for Democracy in a Multiracial Society Fellowship (2003-04)
• Millard Meiss Publication Grant from the College Art Association (2003)
• Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities Fellowship (2001-02)
• Arnold O. Beckman Award from the Research Board of the University of Illinois (2000-01)
• American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship (1998-99)

Although specific students are not listed, O'Brien has led significant research projects, including a $24,000 Terra Foundation grant for a study abroad program in France. His editorial work for Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide and fellowships from the Institute for Advanced Study and the National Gallery underscore his scholarly leadership. He has also co-edited volumes on civil society and transnational art.

O'Brien is affiliated with the Illinois Global Institute and the Center for Global Studies, participating in research clusters on global knowledge. He has contributed to the International Studies Research Lab and the Scholar-in-Residence Program, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on art and global history.