François Pascal Simon, Baron Gerard (12 March 1770 – 11 January 1837) was a French painter born in Rome, where his father occupied a post in the house of the French ambassador. His mother was Italian.
In 1808 as many as eight, in 1810 no less than fourteen portraits by him, were exhibited at the Salon, and these figures afford only an indication of the enormous numbers which he executed yearly; all the leading figures of the Empire and of the Restoration, all the most celebrated men and women of Europe, sat to Gerard. This extraordinary vogue was due partly to the charm of his manner and conversation, for his salon was as much frequented as his studio; Madame de Staël, George Canning, Talleyrand, the Duke of Wellington, have all borne witness to the attraction of his society.
In 1805, François Gérard, pupil of J.-L. David and the most popular portraitist of the day, received commissions for a new portrait of Mme Récamier. Gérard chose for her antique, but more natural and warm setting. The painter managed to depict the erotic magnetism of her appearance, to much praise of the model and admiration of the public. François Gérard remained a devoted friend of Juliette Récamier and left several studies and portraits of her, but this one is the most famous. After her break with Prince August of Prussia she presented him with this portrait; upon the prince’s death, the portrait, in accordance with his will, was returned to Mme Récamier.

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