Effect of the French Revolution on paintings University of the People   The French Revolution stretched from 1789 to 1799. The French Revolution not only brought political and social changes but also influenced French art. In this assignment, I will discuss the effects the French Revolution had on the paintings during the Neoclassical and the Romantic Period. Before the Neoclassic Period, Aristocrats preferred Rococo style paintings. The Rococo style was meant to represent the aristocratic power and wealthy subjects. Blue Boy (below) Figure 1Blue Boy Created in 1770 by Thomas Gainsborough is a perfect example of a Rococo style painting. It portrays graceful elegance in their subject. The style pays attention to texture and details of the dress as well as the financial status of the subject. As we can see the painting completely ignores the lower class people. Peasants and the poor urban citizens had to pay the heavy taxes placed upon them. The lower class citizens were desperate after years of disease, little harvesting, and droughts. The French Revolution brought an end the Rococo style of painting that had been popular in France. In neoclassical works of art that were made prior to the French revolution, Emphasis is given to the patriotic and nationalist feeling with a strong sense of self-sacrifice. Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) was one of the most influential painters during the Revolution and also a strong active supporter of the revolution. One of his pre-revolution neoclassical paintings is the Oath of Horatii. 1784 It depicts a scene from a Roman legend about a dispute between two warring cities, Rome and Alba Longa, and stresses the importance of patriotism and masculine self-sacrifice (French Revolution, 2014, Oct 17) Figure 2 The Oath of Horatii. 1784 “Leading up to and following the French Revolution, Neo-classicism was the predominant artistic style in France” (Neo-classicism & The French Revolution). Art during this time was realistic. It often represented the ideas of the philosopher, such as the importance of basic human rights, ethics, and morality. As stated by Dowd, “leaders of the French Revolution consciously employed all forms of art to mobilize public sentiment in favor of the New France and French nationalism.” (French Revolution, 2014, Oct 17) The Lictors Returning to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons, is another painting by David that was painted in the height of the French revolution in 1789. Even though it was initially banned, the supporters of the revolution displayed it. This painting captures the revolutionary moment when the bodies of the Brutus’s sons are being returned to the family after their failed attempt to end Caesar’s empire. (French Revolution, 2014, Oct 17) Figure 3 The Lictors Returning to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons. Decades after the French Revolution a new movement called Romanticism began to grow. Romanticism was a pan-European movement in the mid-eighteen century. While other painter fled the country Jacques-Louis David stayed and helped to bring down the order. One of his most famous Romantic style painting of the revolution was the La Mort de Marat or The Death of Marat (Dr. Clarie, n.d.). Figure 4 La Mort de Marat His painting was created in 1793 and depicts the death of the murdered French revolutionary leader Jean-Paul Marat. It is a very realistic painting that captures the moment vividly. The painting shows the radical journalist lying dead in his bath on July 13, 1793, after his murder. The paintings completely ignored the lower class. (Dr. Clarie, n.d.). To summarize, as we read above, before the revolution the aristocrats preferred the Rococo style of painting with captured the wealthy life of the powerful aristocrats. During the rise of the revolution, artists started painting neoclassical patriotic paintings depicting self-sacrifice like The Oath of Horatii. As the revolution continued artist started making paintings more of the romantic style depicting grief, sorrow, and pain the supporters of the revolution suffered in their attempt to create a New France.    Reference “French Revolution.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/france/french-revolution “Neo-classicism & the French Revolution.” Grove Art: Subject Guide in. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/france/french-revolution Dr. Clarie (n.d.) Romanticism in France Khan Academy. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/romanticism/romanticism-in-france/a/romanticism-in-france

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