"The Oath of the Horatii" by David: What symbols did the artist encrypt in the patriotic manifesto

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

In 1785, visitors to the Parisian salon were shocked by the painting of David - "The Oath of the Horatii", which later became a masterpiece of neoclassicism. The canvas contains many remarkable nuances, which also contain the artist's hidden meanings.

In 1784-1785, David wrote the "Oath of the Horatii" and demonstrated it in Rome. The painting immediately became a huge hit with critics and the public and remains one of the most famous paintings in the neoclassical style. Only one critic spoke non-positively about the painting: the French scientist and collector Séroux d-Agencourt noticed that the architecture that David depicted in the background of the painting did not exist in Rome until the time of the Later Empire. Absurd reproaches? Probably. But David reacted quite reasonably to this criticism and subsequently very carefully studied the architecture of the time he described. The painting was painted for Louis XVI, and continues the trend of the late 18th century, when artists began to massively get carried away with antique subjects.

Legend. Win or die

The Oath of the Horatii is a historical painting depicting a scene dating back to 669 BC. about a dispute between two rival cities, Rome and Alba Longa. A terrible dispute broke out. For the battle, it was decided to send three soldiers from each city. The hometown of the surviving warrior will be chosen as the victorious city. From Rome, the three Horace brothers from a Roman family agree to end the war by fighting three brothers from the Curiati (Alba Longa) family. Of the three Horace brothers, only one survives the battle. It is the surviving brother who can kill the other three fighters from Alba Longa. Hence the name - the painting depicts the moment when Horace swears an oath to defend Rome. Horace the Elder, preparing his sons, invites them to swear. Thus, describing this plot, David emphasizes the importance of patriotism and male self-sacrifice for the sake of his homeland.

Heroes - men and women

Valor is the main quality of the heroes of David's painting. It is reflected both in the atmosphere of the painting and in its details. Three brothers, each willing to sacrifice his life for the good of Rome, greet their father, who holds out his swords to them. It is enough to pay attention to the tense muscles of the heroes, to their warlike faces, to their absolute readiness for battles and other nuances. Their figures are citadels of patriotism. Helmets, swords, sandals, togas - it all feels authentic. It is interesting that in the preparation of the attire of the characters, David looked up to ancient coins, medals, engravings and bronzes. Men are symbols of the highest virtues in Rome. Their clarity of purpose, reflected in their simple yet powerful use of color contrasts, lends the painting a particular intensity.

The figures of women and children are depicted bent and unassembled, in contrast to the belligerent directness of the men. Two tear-stained women in the foreground highlight the drama of the upcoming event. In the lower right corner, David depicts a woman who is crying. This is Camilla, the sister of the Horace brothers, who is also betrothed to one of the warriors of Alba Longa. Another girl next to her is the sister of the warrior Alba Longa and the bride of one of the Horace brothers. Their situation is especially tragic: they cry from the knowledge that in any case they will lose their loved ones. All women, of course, understand that they may no longer see their relatives. The woman in the back of the stage, the mother of the Horace brothers, tightly hugs the children, who are probably destined to grow up without a father … The children's eyes are full of fear - they are still too naive and small to understand the tragedy of the situation. Despite these marital ties between the two warring cities and despite the tears and pleas of the women, the three Horatians obey their father's call to save Rome.

Scene

The plot unfolds in the courtyard, which is dimly lit by the zenith sun. The deep dark scene heightens the tension and suggests the inevitability of the fateful battle of the Horatii. It was not for nothing that the artist used the Doric order (masculine, strict, courageous). It defines the severity of the columns and capitals. The pictorial treatment of the scene (solid outlines, nude space, clear color, frieze-like composition and clear lighting) is as strict as the subject matter of the painting.

The symbolism of the picture

1. Everything in the picture is focused on the vanishing point of the three swords - this is the main compositional point of the canvas. Old Horace shakes swords in a red toga (a symbol of militancy in this context) and a manly beard. His right hand is open - this is a sign of unforgiving fate. The left hand grips the blades tightly. Horace's hand and swords form a semblance of a shining star as a symbol of duty, overshadowing personal destiny. 2. All men are depicted in straight lines in the likeness of indestructible columns in the background, which indicates their rigidity and strength. While the women are curved like arches supported by columns. 3. The use of straight lines to symbolize power is also demonstrated on swords, two of which are curved and the third is straight. Most likely, this is a clue to the fact that only one of the brothers will survive in this fight. 4. The painting is organized by the number three: three brothers, three women, three swords, three arches. Neoclassicism presupposes values such as stoicism, self-sacrifice, duty, patriotism and reason. Thus, the idealized art of classical antiquity was the main vehicle for the message of David, which culminated in the "Oath of the Horatii"