Enlightenment And Romantic Art Analysis

The Enlightenment and Romantic eras were two drastically different times, not only in artistic style, but in terms of social and political circumstances. To understand the differences between the eras, we can begin by studying artwork from both eras. The Death of Marat, painted by Jacques Louis David, and the Third of May, painted by Francisco Goya, showcase some of the similarities and differences between Enlightenment and Romantic artists and how their artwork is influenced by the social and political circumstances of those periods.

Jean-Paul Marat, the title subject of David’s work, was a prominent figure during the time of the French Revolution. A self-taught physician, he put his scientific career on hold during the time of French political

They both utilize symbols of political martyrs in order to illustrate the devastation and chaos of their corresponding revolutions and wars. Jacques Louis David was asked by the revolutionary government to create representations of political martyrs of the time, and Marat was one of the most infamous figures. (“Jacques Louis David, The Death of Marat”) However, in the Third of May, the martyr is not a well-known political activist, but rather a desperate Spanish civilian asking for the mercy of Napoleon’s troops. Both artists employ the use of emotional chiaroscuro to dramatize the moments being put on display. The light and dark highlight the movement and subjects of both works. In The Death of Marat, the light is focused heavily on Marat’s face and on the list in his hand. The light is softer on Marat himself, as he is the subject of the painting who is being honored by the painting. The light is harsher on the list that Corday gave to him, metaphorically representing the upheaval between the classes during the French revolution. Had it not been for the list and Corday, Marat would have lived long enough to write more publications that would have further fueled the fire of the Revolution. (“Jacques-Louis David: The Death of Marat”) In Goya’s piece, the light is illuminating the pleading Spanish civilian. The subject of the painting asserts the devastation and chaos of the Napoleonic regime, as well as

For example, the subject of Goya’s painting is portrayed more like a Christ figure, bringing in a religious component into the painting not seen in David’s work. The Spanish were largely Catholic at the time, which makes linking a political martyr to a religious martyr in a court-ordered painting unsurprising. The subject in question even has a wound on right hand, much like a stigmata and Jesus Christ. (“15 Things You Should Know About The Third of May”) Marat’s painting has little to no religious content or symbolism. The styles of both differ as well. Looking at the Third of May, you can see the emotion that runs throughout the entire piece just by one glance. The vivid look of grief and terror on the main Spanish civilian’s face, the distinct facial expressions of the other Spanish civilians, the dead bodies placed on the side, and the concealment of the Napoleonic troops’ faces all add to the drama and emotional weight of the painting. Romantic era painters convey a lot of feeling in their works, compared to the Neoclassical era painters. In The Death of Marat, the techniques of Neoclassic artwork are much more apparent. More angular shapes, such as rectangles and triangles, can be seen in the piece. There is less emotion seen, and more reality conveyed. Stylistically, we see more Greek and Romanesque ideals in the details of David’s work. The details of