His father-in-law provided the money he needed for the trip, and David headed for Rome with his wife and three of his students, one of whom, Jean-Germain Drouais (1763–1788), was the Prix de Rome winner of that year.
O seu sogro proporcionoulle o diñeiro que necesitaba para a viaxe, e marchou a Roma coa súa esposa e tres dos seus estudantes, uns dos cales, Jean-Germain Drouais, era o gañador do Premio de Roma dese ano.