Running head: EIGHTEENTH CENTURY ART 1

Eighteenth century art

Name

Institution
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY ART 2

Neoclassicism is the movement in arts that tends to draw inspiration from classical
culture and art of ancient Rome and Greece. With increased popularity of what was popularly
known as the Grand Tour, it became stylish to collect different antiquities as part of souvenirs.
This is what spread the Neoclassical style through America and Europe. This report aims to
explain Neoclassicism through the art work of Jacque-Louis Davids The Oath of the Horatii,
including the analysis of the background, social culture and techniques.
The Oath of the Horatii by Jacques-Louis is an oil on canvas painting. The art tends to
capture a defining moment when three brothers pledge an oath of fighting to death for Rome and
their family. Two women sit motionless behind the father knowing too well that a brother or
lover would be killed. The artwork tends to portray sorrow and pain. This is a typical example of
a Neoclassical history painting that tells a story about virtuous behavior. The dramatic as well as
rhetoric gestures of male figures conveys the idea of oath taking. Moreover, the clear and even-
light tends to make every aspect of the story decipherable to the viewers (McCoy, n.d).
After a close observation of the painting, one notices that the artist utilized color and line with
the aim of accentuating the focal point. These in turn illustrates shadows, curves of clothing, as
well as skin tone creating realism (Asteria, 2017). In addition, the artist incorporated Roman and
Greek clothing including the Turic. Moreover, the art work took a clear, delineated shading and
drawing. In addition, David radically cuts off space using arches hence pushing the action to the
paintings foreground in a manner that is similar to a Roman relief sculpture.
In conclusion, it is evident that the Oath of the Horattii is a typical example of
Neoclassicism. This is because; realism is created through use of shadows, colors and lines.

References

McCoy C (n.d). David, Oath of the Horatii. Retrieved from

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/later-europe-and-
americas/enlightment-revolution/a/david-oath-of-the-horatii

Asteria (2017). Analysis of Jacques-Louise Davids Oath of Horatii. Retrieved from

https://owlcation.com/humanities/Analysis-of-jaques-Louise-Davids-Oath-of-Haratii