Neo-Classicism
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Jacques-Louis David
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| When: |
1748-1825 |
| Where: |
France |
| What: |
Supporter of the changes promised by the Revolution.
Napoleon’s chief painter. |
| What: |
Subject:
- Propagandist paintings to celebrate brotherhood and liberty.
- Glorifying paintings of Napoleon. |
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Composition:
- Stable, balanced and calm.
- Avoided the Baroque and Rococo drama and dynamic diagonals |
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Brushstroke:
- No trace of brushstrokes.
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| What: |
The Oath of the Horatii
1784
Oil on canvas
330 x 425 cm
Musee du Louvre, Paris
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The painting depicts the solemn moment when the
father is giving the swords to his sons, who swore to fight
or die for Rome. The brother closest to the picture plane is
the only brother that returns as he is differentiated by the
right hand that he holds out. The soft curves of the ladies
on the right contrast with the straight lines of the men. The
three arches in the background also frame the foreground figures
into three groups.
Done right before the Revolution, this painting can be seen
as a propagandist work. Promoting heroism to fight for what
the people's beilef. |
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| What: |
Death of Marat
1793
Oil on canvas
165 x 128.3 cm
Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique |
Marat, a close friend of David and also a radical
revolutionary, was murdered by a widow who disguised as a supporter
of the Revolution. Marat was suffering from a skin disease that
required his to stay in a medicated bath. There he stayed for
most of the time and wrote on the box as seen in the painting.
Immediately after the murder, David rushed to the scene ot record
it. The knife, bloodstained towel and the box were closely painted.
David avoided painting the problematic skin condition by smoothening
the skin.
The background has been left blank to bring the emphasis to
the foreground figure and objects. |
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| What: |
The Sabine Women
1796-99
Oil on canvas
12' 8" x 17' 3/4"
Musee du Louvre, Paris |
The Sabines were an ancient tribe from the mountainous region
of central Italy. They were frequently at war with the Romans.
This painting depict the scene when the Sabine men broke into
Rome in an attempt to rescue the Sabine women who were abducted
by the Roman.
However, by that time, the Sabine women were already bearing
the children by the Roman. During the fight, the Sabine women
came to stop the fight pleading their relatives (Sabine) and
their husbands (Roman) to make peace.
Now, in what ways do you think this painting is Neo-classical?
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| What: |
Napoleon at St. Bernard
Oil on Canvas
9' 11 1/2" x 7' 2"
1800
Musee du Louvre, Paris
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This painting can be seen in conjunction with
Gericault's An Officer of the Imperial Horse Guards Charging
in 1814. Here, every strand of the hair of the horse is
depicted to such precision that it looks as if the horse is
frozen in that posture.
It was said that the actual scene was not such a heroic one,
as depicted by Paul Delaroche's “Napoleon Crossing the
St Bernard” in 1848. |
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Gericault
An Officer of the Imperial Horse Guards Charging
1814 |
Paul Delaroche
Napoleon Crossing the St Bernard
1848. |
| What: |
David's art remained as the standard of European
art for many years.
He told his students "Never let your brushstrokes show". |
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