Painting
The Oath of the Horatii, ca. 1784
Jacques-Louis David This image shows the three Horatii brothers pledging their lives to their country, depicted as Rome, but resounded with the French leading up to the Revolution. Many French citizens believed that their country was the ultimate power worth fighting for, even willing to sacrifice their lives for it.
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The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons, ca. 1789
Jaques- Louis David Painted in the year the French Revolution broke out, this Neo- Classic image shows the bodies of a man's sons being returned home, paralleling the circumstances in France at the time. The women's expressions show raw emotion, but the seated man's face remains more "hard" and unwavering. This revealed the attitude of some during the era, that hardship must occur to see any results, that personal struggles cannot hinder the progress of many.
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Sculpture
Voltaire, ca. 1778
Jean-Antoine Houdon Voltaire, a famous French Enlightenment figure, is depicted in this carving. The sculpture shows him straining forward, in congruence with French citizens during the time period. The citizens longed to gain knowledge and impact in order to restore France to a great country.
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During the French Revolution, Neo- Classical art could be deemed "the people's art." Through usage of various ancient themes, it showed the conditions under which the common French people lived and fought for their rights.