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Jaques Louis David, The Oath of the Horatii
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Jaques Louis David, The Oath of the Horatii, 1784 (Louvre, Paris, France/Giraudon/Bridgeman Art Library). Three young Romans vow allegiance to the state before their father to fight for a right and honourable cause. David studied in Rome and saw in the ancient statues there, not just a physical heroism but also a culture he viewed as virtuous and uncorrupted. This interpretation of Roman society was in stark contrast to his own in pre-revolutionary France, where the king claimed a divine right to rule and do as he pleased. The people suffered as a result and David himself suffered from the rigid orthodoxy of the old art establishment. This painting though, championing loyalty to the state rather than the church or crown would later become a defining image of the French Revolution. More about the programme |
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