One of the most important aspects of art is continuity and change, in which certain imagery continues to be used across history, or is changed overtime. Art pieces from different time periods can be compared and contrasted with each other, taking into account symbols that have been transformed or are still present in both pieces. Two paintings that show a great amount of continuity and transformations are The Third of May by Francisco Goya, and The Oath of the Horatii. Goya and David’s paintings are have many similarities in imagery and symbols, but have a myriad of differences in regards to meaning, form, context, and function.
Differing greatly in historical context and influence, the two paintings promoted vastly different agendas. The …show more content…
The Oath of the Horatii, commissioned by King Louis XVI, was originally designed to unite the suffering people of France in support of him and his rule, but ultimately backfired, as it was used as propaganda for the rebels during the French Revolution. The Oath of the Horatii inspires patriotism among people, ensuring they are loyal to their country and their rulers. The pose taken by the three brothers is also seen in the Third of May in the soldiers with their guns drawn. The meaning behind the figures differs greatly however because the soldiers in Goya’s painting face away from the viewer. This transforms the french soldiers from patriotic fighters, to a mindless killing machine, slaughtering a massive line of innocent peasants. Here, Goya immortalizes and glorifies the martyred peasants of the May third massacre, who never gave up or stopped fighting. This glorification and martyrdom is prominent due to the christlike imagery of the center figure, who is dressed in white and poses as if he were nailed to a cross. The emotions on the faces of the peasants also brings an essential sense of humanity to the Spanish within the painting. David uses his painting to inspire patriotism for France, while Goya uses his to vilify France for their brutality. The same position can create vastly different meanings, as David uses it to show strength, while Goya uses it to show cowardice and …show more content…
Romanticism, which includes the Third of May, emphasizes emotion and the expression of the individual. Romanticism involves rebellion against set social rules and focuses on human emotion, which is a stark contrast with neoclassical art. Neoclassicism, which includes the Oath of the Horatii is art that draws inspiration from ancient Grecian ideas or ancient Roman ideas. Here, little to no emphasis is put on emotion, but instead on rationality, brute strength, and classic Grecian and Roman stories and myths. This art is often filled with grecian architecture, groups of three, and philosophical ideas. Neoclassical art is often used as propaganda to support systems or ideologies already in place, while romanticism is often used to challenge these ideas and rebel against established social rules and convention. Both art styles are influential and are used to convey important artistic messages, but utilize different techniques to do
Differing greatly in historical context and influence, the two paintings promoted vastly different agendas. The …show more content…
The Oath of the Horatii, commissioned by King Louis XVI, was originally designed to unite the suffering people of France in support of him and his rule, but ultimately backfired, as it was used as propaganda for the rebels during the French Revolution. The Oath of the Horatii inspires patriotism among people, ensuring they are loyal to their country and their rulers. The pose taken by the three brothers is also seen in the Third of May in the soldiers with their guns drawn. The meaning behind the figures differs greatly however because the soldiers in Goya’s painting face away from the viewer. This transforms the french soldiers from patriotic fighters, to a mindless killing machine, slaughtering a massive line of innocent peasants. Here, Goya immortalizes and glorifies the martyred peasants of the May third massacre, who never gave up or stopped fighting. This glorification and martyrdom is prominent due to the christlike imagery of the center figure, who is dressed in white and poses as if he were nailed to a cross. The emotions on the faces of the peasants also brings an essential sense of humanity to the Spanish within the painting. David uses his painting to inspire patriotism for France, while Goya uses his to vilify France for their brutality. The same position can create vastly different meanings, as David uses it to show strength, while Goya uses it to show cowardice and …show more content…
Romanticism, which includes the Third of May, emphasizes emotion and the expression of the individual. Romanticism involves rebellion against set social rules and focuses on human emotion, which is a stark contrast with neoclassical art. Neoclassicism, which includes the Oath of the Horatii is art that draws inspiration from ancient Grecian ideas or ancient Roman ideas. Here, little to no emphasis is put on emotion, but instead on rationality, brute strength, and classic Grecian and Roman stories and myths. This art is often filled with grecian architecture, groups of three, and philosophical ideas. Neoclassical art is often used as propaganda to support systems or ideologies already in place, while romanticism is often used to challenge these ideas and rebel against established social rules and convention. Both art styles are influential and are used to convey important artistic messages, but utilize different techniques to do