His Most Famous Painting (Oath of the Horatii) - Jacques-Louis David
Jacques-Louis David was born on August 30, 1748, to a very prosperous couple in Paris, France.
His father died when he was very young and his rich uncles brought him up.
Jacques-Louis was an influential French painter and draughtsman of the 'Neoclassical' style and is considered among the greatest painters of all times.
His works with 'History' themes were of very high taste, which fetched acclaim from his critics too.
"The Oath of the Horatii (French: Le Serment des Horace)," created in 1784, five years before French Revolution, was one of David's most famous paintings and it occupies a very important place in 'French History Paintings.
' The administrator of Royal Residences, on the behalf of King Louis XVI of France, commissioned the "Oath of the Horatii" to Jacques, in the year 1784.
The painting was captured as a mark of loyalty to the King and the State.
Exhibited at the 1785 Salon, the 'Allegorical Painting,' the "Oath of the Horatii" depicts an oath scene in the context of a story, taken from 'Ab Urbe Condita (From the Founding of the City),' also called as the 'History of Rome,' written by a Roman historian Titus-Livy.
In 669 B.
C.
, at the time of a war between Rome and Alba, a dispute between the two cities had to be settled in a fight between two groups, with three Horatii brothers in one group and three Curiatti brothers in the other.
Horatti's father orders his determined, valiant, and Roman patriotic sons to fight against the Curiatti, which they obey, even as the softhearted womenfolk lament and cry in the background.
The striking "Oath of the Horatti" became a resounding success.
The masterpiece depicts Roman Salute, performed before starting a war.
The painting shows the appeal of the Horatti father in the center, with his three swords down, and the reply by the three Horatti brothers at the left, with their palms down against the sword as a mark of salute or oath, forming a 'T.
' 3 women at the right side of the artwork, are shown in tears and grief.
One of the Horatius sisters, in white dress, is engaged to one of the Curiatii brothers, while the woman in brown dress is a Curiatius, married to one of the Horatti brothers.
The woman in black, in the background, holds two kids, out of which one is the child of a Curiatius mother and a Horatius father.
The whole scene of the Jacques-Louis' "Oath of the Horatti" is a heart-stirring treat to the beholder.
The colors used are vibrant and the silk clothes, the brothers and the womenfolk are shown wearing, bring the rich scenario of that decade alive.
David transformed the passions and the virtues, entangled in this story, into a sublime, iconic 'Neo-Classical' painting.
He brought about the required intensity in the "Oath of the Horatti," with his colors and background, emphasizing the oath in the painting.
This painting launched Jacques' popularity and made him 'the' 'Neoclassical' painter who painted 'History' for the next two decades too.
Jacques-Louis David died on December 29, 1825, at Brussels, Belgium.
Measuring 128" × 165", the oil on canvass work, the "Oath of the Horatii" is presently displayed at the much-esteemed Louvre, Paris.
His father died when he was very young and his rich uncles brought him up.
Jacques-Louis was an influential French painter and draughtsman of the 'Neoclassical' style and is considered among the greatest painters of all times.
His works with 'History' themes were of very high taste, which fetched acclaim from his critics too.
"The Oath of the Horatii (French: Le Serment des Horace)," created in 1784, five years before French Revolution, was one of David's most famous paintings and it occupies a very important place in 'French History Paintings.
' The administrator of Royal Residences, on the behalf of King Louis XVI of France, commissioned the "Oath of the Horatii" to Jacques, in the year 1784.
The painting was captured as a mark of loyalty to the King and the State.
Exhibited at the 1785 Salon, the 'Allegorical Painting,' the "Oath of the Horatii" depicts an oath scene in the context of a story, taken from 'Ab Urbe Condita (From the Founding of the City),' also called as the 'History of Rome,' written by a Roman historian Titus-Livy.
In 669 B.
C.
, at the time of a war between Rome and Alba, a dispute between the two cities had to be settled in a fight between two groups, with three Horatii brothers in one group and three Curiatti brothers in the other.
Horatti's father orders his determined, valiant, and Roman patriotic sons to fight against the Curiatti, which they obey, even as the softhearted womenfolk lament and cry in the background.
The striking "Oath of the Horatti" became a resounding success.
The masterpiece depicts Roman Salute, performed before starting a war.
The painting shows the appeal of the Horatti father in the center, with his three swords down, and the reply by the three Horatti brothers at the left, with their palms down against the sword as a mark of salute or oath, forming a 'T.
' 3 women at the right side of the artwork, are shown in tears and grief.
One of the Horatius sisters, in white dress, is engaged to one of the Curiatii brothers, while the woman in brown dress is a Curiatius, married to one of the Horatti brothers.
The woman in black, in the background, holds two kids, out of which one is the child of a Curiatius mother and a Horatius father.
The whole scene of the Jacques-Louis' "Oath of the Horatti" is a heart-stirring treat to the beholder.
The colors used are vibrant and the silk clothes, the brothers and the womenfolk are shown wearing, bring the rich scenario of that decade alive.
David transformed the passions and the virtues, entangled in this story, into a sublime, iconic 'Neo-Classical' painting.
He brought about the required intensity in the "Oath of the Horatti," with his colors and background, emphasizing the oath in the painting.
This painting launched Jacques' popularity and made him 'the' 'Neoclassical' painter who painted 'History' for the next two decades too.
Jacques-Louis David died on December 29, 1825, at Brussels, Belgium.
Measuring 128" × 165", the oil on canvass work, the "Oath of the Horatii" is presently displayed at the much-esteemed Louvre, Paris.