ThÃ odore GÃ ricault ( September 26 , 1791 â `` January 26 , 1824 ) was an important French painter , known for The Raft of the Medusa and other paintings . ThÃ odore GÃ ricault ( 26 September 1791 -- 26 January 1824 ) was a profoundly influential French artist , painter and lithographer , known for The Raft of the Medusa and other paintings .