The Oath of the Horatii
Jacques-Louis David. 1784 C.E. France. Oil on canvas
Designed to rally republicans (those who believed in the ideals of a republic, and not a monarchy, for France) by telling them that their cause will require the dedication and sacrifice of the Horatii.
Artist: Jacques-Louis David
Patron: French Royals
Location: France
Date: 1784
Style: French
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Movement: French Neoclassical
Form: Neoclassical
- Simplistic and Symbolic
- Rejection of Rococo
- Organized and structured
- Male Figures = constructed with geometric shapes
- Female Figure = organic/realistic shapes
Function: Show 3 sons taking an oath to their father
Content: Depiction of a Roman Myth
- Three brothers swear on their swords to their father
- Women sits to the right grieving
- Figures are placed in a columned hall (Neoclassical)
Context:
Legend of Horatti
- Conflict between Rome and city of Alba
- Instead of declaring war, they sent 3 representatives to settle dispute
- 3 brothers of the Horatti
- Typical for battles to be won as men remain standing
- Held moral value in Roman culture
- Sacrifice for the defense of your city is a noble case
Time of Painting
- France was on the verge of its Revolution and the end of the monarchy
- David picked up on the independent ideas resurfacing all over the world (revolutionary thinking)
