What makes Jacques-Louis David's work neoclassic?

Question

other than his subject matter...it seems like paintings intertwined in politics do not uphold the ideals and virtues of the neoclassical style.

Answer 1

David's paintings were based heavily upon Roman pieces and it was a revival of the ideals of antiquity. The bodies became very idealized and male beauty was nude, muscular and heroic. Just observe the heroic bodies of the triplets in the Oath of the Horattii. Futher, David painted many legends and history paintings from antiquity (The Oath, Intervention of the Sabine Women, Death of Socratese, Leonidas at Thermopalye etc). And his paintings of political scenes definately uphold the ideals and virtues. Just look at the Death of Marat, he is incredibly idealized. Further the idea of fraternity, the rebuplic, and liberty were strongly upheld by the ancient Romans and this philosophy is represented in all of David's paintings. The whole point of David's paintings were used as political propaganda and certain agendas, which indeed was very common during Emperial Rome. They were intended to promote strong morals, faith in the country, loyalty, and putting the country infront of the family (Brutus recieving the bodies of his sons from the Licturs, and The Oath). He also used his art like the Romans to give roles to different classes and genders. Just compare The Oath or Intervention of the Sabine Women to the Ara Pacis made under Caesar Augusts' rule. If you have any questions feel free to ask! This is my favorite time period of art. Good luck

Answer 2

I shall have to disagree with you here. I'm sorry.

David's works are undoubtedly propaganda but they fit the Neoclassical genre extremely well.

You have to look at how Neoclassicim came about before you can have a balanced understanding. The style of David's painting came about during the 17th century when the French opened their Academie Royale in Paris. Artists like Charles le Brun wanted to break away their form of art from the craft-like guilds such as the Matrisse so they adopted the practices (not the moral values) of Classical Antiquity and the Renaissance in order to produce ideal art which involves the mind rather than just the hands. This was known as academic art or history painting which was at the highest level of the Hierarchy of the Genres as it depicted the human grouped form, was planned using perspective etc and painted to a high level of finish so that the brush strokes were rarely visible. Usually very large, these works were sometimes allegorical and nearly always had a narrative (told a story). They were painted for monarchs and the aristocracy in order to elevate the status of the patron. Facial expressions were clearly discerned, they looked almost stage lit and the figures usually took up most of the organisational space.

Most important though was the narrative and symbology, like a language understood only by the educated few and of course the artist himself.

This type of work which started as propeganda for Kings, Dukes and Popes in Italy and France eventually grew into the Neoclassical style.

Thus it suited well both the revolutionary government in France and subsequently Napoleon. Both of who required this type of propaganda.

Answer 3

Neoclassic is mostly about how it looks and the time period it is made in. The idea behind it only makes it more interesting but it does not 'unmake' it neoclassical.

Answer 4

This site has a lot of great information about neoclassicism. Scroll to the part that says "Neoclassicism in architecture and in the decorative and visual arts".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoclassicism#Neoclassicism_in_architecture_and_in_the_decorative_and_visual_arts

Answer 5

Ahoy!

I suppose some would argue that he sought to achieve the balance in composition proposed in classical ideals.

Regards.