Priyanka Babu
Mrs. Philyaw
HH 1: Period 2
22 October 2017
Oath of the Horatii: The Epitome of Neoclassicism
Oath of the Horatii is an oil painting completed in 1784 by French painter Jacques-Louis David (Zucker). It depicts a classic subject: three brothers taking an oath to their father before they leave to fight for Rome. By underscoring the moral integrity of the young soldiers, David emphasizes their positive example to contrast the weakness of society. The idea of fraternity and heroic sacrifice was very fitting; it reflected the need for a sense of patriotism and state service in a time of political turmoil leading up to the French Revolution. The canvas was displayed at the Salon, an official exhibition of the French Academy, in 1785 and was received well by many people. It provided a stark contrast between the popular Rococo style and the beginnings of Neoclassicism- it was something completely new and unlike anything people had ever seen before (Zucker). Born into a noble family, David was educated by two architects and studied at the French Academy (Jacques-Louis David Biography, Art). There, he studied under an influential painter and had access to a plethora of opportunities, one of which was traveling to Rome, a center for the arts during the Italian Renaissance. There, David was inspired by ancient architectural buildings, freestanding statues, marble reliefs, and more (Jacques Louis David). These Classical-influenced masterpieces planted the seeds of early Neoclassicism in David’s works. His works applied principles that were the basis of Renaissance art, such as geometric proportion and architecture, and was a revolutionary style that changed the course of art history. Oath of the Horatii’s clearly discernable transition from Rococo and its distinguishable Neoclassical features and design provide a surplus of meaning, and should therefore be considered a masterpiece.
Oath of the Horatii’s message and symbolism and the wide use of Classical elements provided a clear transition from the Rococo style to Neoclassicism. In the early stages before the French Revolution, high tensions and political turmoil led painters to reflect the societal atmosphere in their paintings with more serious topics rather than the light-hearted paintings of Rococo. Rococo art was characterized by a frivolity and optimism and was simply to please the eye; it lacked any deeper message or symbolism. The strategic use of symbolism to incite citizens to take action in Oath of the Horatii shows the beginnings of a new style. The sacrifice the brothers make in the paintings reaffirm the ideas of subjugating one's own well being for the greater service of the state. This deeper message sparks a flame within the viewers and brings about a sense of patriotism and obligation. This effect causes the painting to resonate with the audience and allows each individual to interpret the surplus of meaning in a way that speaks to them. This profound message is what distinguishes Oath of the Horatii as being the transition from the light, superficial Rococo style to the expressive, significant Neoclassical style. Another example of the transition from Rococo are the technical skills and elements themselves. David utilizes several geometrical proportions and shading techniques that revived the Classical Greco-Roman style. Human anatomy, geometric patterns, and architectural features provide a preciseness that was absent in the widely popular Rococo art form. Compared to the luxurious, soft, rounded figures of Rococo, the painting is almost the exact opposite (Gersh-Nesic). David incorporated aspects of Classical antiquity and various political influences to create a unique masterpiece that served as a revolutionary transition from Rococo and was the first of its kind.
In addition to being a revolutionary art piece that served as a transition from Rococo, Oath of the Horatii epitomizes the Neoclassical age. The specific elements that are depicted in the painting itself reflect the Neoclassical style of art that borrowed many facets from Classical antiquity. “The interest in the anatomy of the body, musculature, and the movement of the body are directly from ancient Greek and Roman art. The lighting which rakes across the surface is similar to an ancient Roman relief carving. The rounded Roman arches and Tuscan columns display antiquity. The geometric pattern on the floor sets the stage for the figures. The orthogonal lines created by the pavement lead to a vanishing point” (Zucker). By drawing from multiple sources of Classical inspiration and synthesizing them into a coherent, meaningful painting, David encapsulates all of distinguishable principles of the Neoclassical style: harmony, simplicity, and proportion (Gontar). In addition to these elements, the subject matter is very typical of the Neoclassical style. “There was an emphasis on formal composition, historical events/figures, settings and costumes, and the spirit of classical revival” (Gontar). The name “Neoclassical” is derived from the revival of Classical antiquity, the most important feature of this period. Classical antiquity placed great importance in the glory of the human being and preferred secular topics. Oath of the Horatii does exactly that. The painting tells the story of an ancient Roman legend in which the Horatii brothers take an oath to protect Rome (Gersh-Nesic). The defined human proportions and musculature of the four men in the center highlight the importance and glory of the human being. Oath of the Horatii’s synthesis of various Classical elements make it the epitome of the Neoclassical style.
Jacques-Louis David’s paint Oath of the Horatii is a revolutionary painting that provided a clear transition from Rococo to Neoclassicism. The message behind the piece instills a sense of patriotism in the viewers and serves as a call-to-action of sorts to combat the rising tensions and political turmoil of the time period. The harmonious blending of multiple Classical features makes this painting the epitome of Neoclassicism and should therefore be considered a masterpiece.