Oath Of The Horatii Essay

The Oath of the Horatii by Jacques-Louis David is perhaps one of the most important art pieces of the Neoclassical era. This painting has become a symbol of this movement, not only because of the story behind the scene that David portrayed, but because of the elements that compose the art work. Painted in 1784-1785 this oil on canvas participated in the Salon of 1785 where it became famous due to the radical statement of the scene depicted. Nowadays you can find it hanging on the walls of the Musee du Louvre in Paris, France. This painting’s subject is loosely based on the “historically-based” play by the French playwright, Pierre Corneille, called Horace. The story is set during a time of war between Rome and Alba. The story centers on

David was a pioneer for the Neo-Classical movement in France and began this style after returning from Rome where he studied for several years. This style differed greatly from the Rococo period which typically featured the frivolity of the aristocracy. David set the tone for the Neo-Classical style in this painting by implying several different techniques. One of these techniques, was the influence of Greek and Roman style/architecture, which can be seen in the columns in the background. The story featured is also a morally-based story that is historic, another common aspect of that period. Other techniques that David uses in this piece include dull colors, excluding the bright red used in the center to draw attention to the father, as well as the symbolism of three, where he places all of the elements of the composition in threes (three brothers, three swords, three women, three arches). To conclude, David’s Oath of the Horatti was a pioneer of its time as well as an important symbol for the political changes of that period. His work set the tone for the next generation of artists to