Art of the French Revolution Jacques-Louis David 6th Grade Art Masterpiece

The Swing, by Fraggonard The painting depicts a young man hidden in the bushes, watching a woman on a swing, being pushed by an elderly man, almost hidden in the shadows, and unaware of the lover. As the lady goes high on the swing, she lets the young man take a furtive peep under her dress, all while flicking her own shoe off in the direction of a statue of the Greek god of discretion and turning her back to two angelic cherubim on the side of the older man.

Rococo architecture was fantastical, full of flourishes, and dramatically decorative. Parts of Versaille were completed in the Rococo style.

Jacques-Louis David, self portrait The Enlightenment changes what the people are seeking in their art—instead of the silly and fanciful, they are looking for art that has meaning. This man, Jacques-Louis David, creates this kind of painting. He uses Greek and Roman themes to demonstrate that his art is serious, it is solid, and it carries meaning that will last and last. He is friends with Robespierre, and he wants to use his art to share political messages.

The story of Oath of the Horatii came from a Roman legend first recounted by the Roman historian Livy involving a conflict between the Romans and a rival group from nearby Alba. Rather than continue a full-scale war, they elect representative combatants to settle their dispute. The Romans select the Horatii and the Albans choose another trio of brothers, the Curatii. In the painting we witness the Horatii taking an oath to defend Rome.

The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons; using classical themes to tell a story. In this one, Brutus, who was a Roman leader, had ordered the death of his own sons for trying to overthrow the Roman republic and re-establish the monarchy. His wife and daughters are distraught and mourning, but Brutus seems almost indifferent. The idea portrayed here is that acting on the behalf of the greater good—the people—is more noble than any sacrifice, even if it means going against those you love.

David’s painting, Napoleon in His Study, has many symbols to further portray a man of greatness.  His military uniform and sword show authority.  He is also portrayed as being very calm by his facial expression and his hand inside of his vest, which was something 18th century men often did to show they calm, relaxed and comfortable before the invention of pockets.  There are also many ancient Egyptian and Greek symbols such as the winged head of mercury on the wall and the lion table leg.  The winged head of mercury is a Greek symbol of wealth and the lion is an Egyptian symbol of physical and majestically power of a king.  The burnt down candles and the bee chair fabric show that Napoleon is a “busy bee” and diligently working to expand the French empire and promote allies.  The book that is at the foot of Napoleon, is copy of Plutarch’s Lives, which is a classical book containing biographies of powerful generals that included Caesar and Hannibal.

David’s painting, Napoleon Crossing the St David’s painting, Napoleon Crossing the St. Bernard Pass, displays Napoleon gallantly riding into battle.  Golden colors were used on Napoleon’s cape, pants, and hat.  These colors indicate Napoleon’s godliness.  The white horse may also symbolize godliness or purity, but there are four other versions of this painting that have darker colored horses as well as a more ominous background. Although, the colors vary, Napoleon’s calm but determined expression in is the same.  The wild horse is seen as a symbol of danger or an enemy force and the fact that Napoleon is taking it by the reins depicts him as a great political and militaristic leader. David was trying to portray Napoleon as a great authority figure. He was campaigning for him through his paintings by displaying his attributes.  In reality the crossing had been made in fine weather and Bonaparte had been led across by a guide a few days after the troops, mounted on a mule.[1] However, from the outset the painting was first and foremost propaganda, and Bonaparte asked David to portray him "calm, mounted on a fiery steed" (Calme sur un cheval fougueux), and it is probable that he also suggested the addition of the names of the other great generals who had led their forces across the Alps: Hannibal and Charlemagne. Unable to convince Napoleon to sit for the picture, David took a bust as a starting point for his features, and made his son perch on top of a ladder as a model for the posture.

 The youthful posture of David's son, forced into posing for the artist by Bonaparte's refusal to sit, is evident in the attitude of the Napoleon portrayed in the painting; with his legs folded like the Greek riders, the youthful figure evokes the young Alexander the Great mounted on Bucephalus as seen on his sarcophagus. The horses of the Greek statuary which appear many times in David's notebooks point to the bas-reliefs of theParthenon as a source of inspiration.

Showing leaders atop their horses had long been a tradition, dating back to Greek and Roman times. This is the Roman general Marcus Aurelius on his horse. It shows the leader as powerful, elevated, and in charge.

Arthur George, 3rd Earl of Onslow, who had a large Napoleonic collection, was visiting the Louvre with Paul Delaroche in 1848 and commented on the implausibility and theatricality of David's painting. He commissioned Delaroche to produce a more accurate version which featured Napoleon on a mule. 

the painting quickly became well known as a result of the numerous reproductions that were produced, the image appearing everywhere from posters to postage stamps. It quickly became the most reproduced image of Napoleon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsjJeP2tPyA (watch clip @50 seconds)—kids loved this clip!

the painting quickly became well known as a result of the numerous reproductions that were produced, the image appearing everywhere from posters to postage stamps. It quickly became the most reproduced image of Napoleon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsjJeP2tPyA (watch clip @50 seconds)—kids loved this part