The revival of Classical Subject matter is noted in the 17th century works of Peter Paul Reuben and in the 18th century by Jacques-Louis David and Angelica Kauffmann. All these artists spent some time in Rome or at least Italy, then incorporated some aspect of antiquity into their art for the purpose of expressing their patron’s desires and their own opinions. A pioneer of his time, Peter Paul Reuben created multiple works for the Medici family that utilized classical subjects which he observed in his time in Rome from 1604-1608 (Kleiner and Gardner 697). Reuben’s masterpiece “Arrival of Marie de’ Medici at Marseilles” (Kleiner and Gardner 699) and the “Consequences of War” (Kleiner and Gardner 700) implemented figures from mythology to emphasis
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David was the leading neoclassical painter in France during the 18th century, while Kaufmann spent her productive years in England. Similarly, to Reuben, Kaufmann had spent some time in Italy studying the arts, while David actually revitalized the Greek Style. David’s “Oath of the Horatii”, an oil on canvas made in 1784 (Kleiner and Gardner 747), and Angelica Kaufmann’s “Mother of the Gracchi”, an oil on canvas made in 1785 (Kleiner and Gardner 746), have the same purpose of instilling valiant morals to the general population. David created his “Oath of the Horatii” in a post revolutionary France and therefore fostered pride in civil duty and sacrifice with his work of art as three Roman sons pledge to fight for their nation in spite of the woman who lie in sorrow and angst (Kleiner and Gardner 747). The entire scene from Roman history and literature is set on a stage with plain arches in the back and statuesque figures that stand apart from the rest of the scene. Kaufmann has also placed “Mother of the Gracchi” in a Roman setting, with regards to the clothes and architect (Kleiner and Gardner 746), but her composition is much less a presentation as it is depicting. The “Mother of the Gracchi” is presenting her children as jewels to a woman showing off her wealth (Kleiner and Gardner 746). This is another example of how artist from the 17th and 18th centuries implemented classical motifs to express a present day
David was the leading neoclassical painter in France during the 18th century, while Kaufmann spent her productive years in England. Similarly, to Reuben, Kaufmann had spent some time in Italy studying the arts, while David actually revitalized the Greek Style. David’s “Oath of the Horatii”, an oil on canvas made in 1784 (Kleiner and Gardner 747), and Angelica Kaufmann’s “Mother of the Gracchi”, an oil on canvas made in 1785 (Kleiner and Gardner 746), have the same purpose of instilling valiant morals to the general population. David created his “Oath of the Horatii” in a post revolutionary France and therefore fostered pride in civil duty and sacrifice with his work of art as three Roman sons pledge to fight for their nation in spite of the woman who lie in sorrow and angst (Kleiner and Gardner 747). The entire scene from Roman history and literature is set on a stage with plain arches in the back and statuesque figures that stand apart from the rest of the scene. Kaufmann has also placed “Mother of the Gracchi” in a Roman setting, with regards to the clothes and architect (Kleiner and Gardner 746), but her composition is much less a presentation as it is depicting. The “Mother of the Gracchi” is presenting her children as jewels to a woman showing off her wealth (Kleiner and Gardner 746). This is another example of how artist from the 17th and 18th centuries implemented classical motifs to express a present day