neoclassical movement
Art is used for Propaganda all the time, since before the French revolution and long after. Neoclassical art is a very direct natural movement, and propaganda is quite a direct art form. Many painters during the French revolution were commissioned to paint images of a small man and make him larger than life. Napoleon is depicted as very idealized in paintings. He looks like a strong leader anyone would want to follow to victory.
Napoleon Crossing the Alps, Jacques-Louis David, 1801
When I think of the French Revolution and Napoleon, this particular painting is the first thing I think about. It's such a popular painting for history, and its impeccable techniques. Napoleon looks quite dignified upon his horse, surrounded by doom. Neoclassical art is all about natives and this painting tells a story of victory.
The king of Spain commissioned this painting to show their improved relationship with France. In the painting, you see Napoleon as he leads the reserve army through a mountain pass called Saint Bernard.
Napoleon is very idealized in this painting as such a magnificent leader showing his army through a treacherous pass. In the background, you can see a storm rolling in, along with cliffs and steep mountains, which look quite trying to get through. The color palette for the background and the rest of the painting is very earthy and natural, which was an important factor of neoclassical art. There is an interesting flow through the painting with the slants in the rock formations mimicking the angel of Napoleon and his steed. The dark background contrasts against Napoleon's bright red flowing cape and the white horse.
Napoleon is front and center in the composition in a stance that is influenced by Roman equestrian statues. And his hand forms the blessing sign as he reaches his arm out for victory. These aspects show the Roman and Greek art styles influencing the neoclassical movement. Another important value for neoclassical art was civic pride, and in this painting, you can see how proud he is of his country and his men. He gives off such confidence and calmness during this dangerous climb through the mountains.
Napoleon Crossing the Alps is a great example of neoclassical art with its earthy tones, direct angles, ties to the holy roman empire, and patriotic vibe. This piece is also a great example of propaganda with how it idealizes napoleon.
Bonaparte Visiting the Plague victims of Jaffa, Antoine-Jean Gros, 1804
In this painting you can see Napoleon reaching out to a plague-infected man, showing that he's not afraid and will not abandon his men. Again, this is propaganda by projecting a holy undertone and portraying Napoleon close to holy
Jesus once touched a leper healing him, although his advisors told him not to touch the sick man. Just like Jesus, Napoleon is touching a man with a terminal illness and showing no fear, just empathy. You also see his men trying to hold back the prominent leader as he reaches out, touching the man. He is painted in divine light, potentially sacrificing his own life just to provide some human contact of empathy.
The painting is divided into two sections. The line of separation is pointed out clearly with darkness and light tones. A doctor and a general of the French Army are in the middle of a painting on the light side.
On the darker side, the artist painted sorrowful, powerless figures, and a group of Arabic soldiers. There is a man in Asiatic clothing giving bread to the victim. The architecture to the left side of the painting is also Arabic.
In the foreground, you see tired, almost lifeless bodies under blankets and you can tell the story through the pain exaggerated in how their bodies are painted. And in the light beside the darkness, you see hope as the leader of a fallen country touches a dying man.
In the painting's background, you see the landscape of Jaffa and from far away from structures you see the French flag.
This painting represents the sack of Jaffa on March 17th, 1799. During this invasion, 1500 out of 13000 of his soldiers were infected with the plague. Napoleon commissioned it himself as a way to deter rumors of his poisoned French troops infected with the plague.
Liberty Leading the People, Eugène Delacroix,1830
This oil painting is a scene from the 1830 July Revolution in pairs. He stated this oil painting after seeing how the violence progressed after a group of restrictive ordinances that Charles X sent on July 26, 1830. During this time, the middle-class and working men fought in the streets in pairs and built barricades out of anything they could find. In the painting, you see the violence and heroism. The propagated in this painting is sliding towards the French people as they overthrow their monarchy, Charles X.
Front and center you have a heroic half-naked woman raising the revolution French flag in one hand and a musket in the other. Her fierce, charging stance was influenced by heroic Greek sculptures. The woman is also wearing a red Phrygian cap, worn by working-class citizens, and was soon called “liberty caps”.
In the mid-ground, there are other normal citizens of Paris from different classes all fighting together. There is a man who's a member of the bourgeoisie, you can tell by how fancy he's dressed. There's a student with a pistol in each hand behind the woman, and a factory worker and weak figures lie upon the ground whilst one looks up at the woman with hope.
It's very neoclassical with the diagonal lines coming from the left section. The clouds and left side figures are all slanted in the same direction, while the woman and the boy point upwards. The colors also remain still, earth tones.
I think this painting is one of my favorite neoclassical paintings. The woman looks like a real woman with her dirt and armpit hair. She looks like a real woman standing up for her country's needs in such a patriotic way as she holds the flag. This painting also evokes so much sadness in me. Les Misérables is one of my favorite musicals, and this painting I believe is from the same moment in time. I cry every time I watch the movie, but this painting looks so inspiring that it makes me happy.
“Bonaparte Visiting the Plague Victims of Jaffa.” Napoleon.org, https://www.napoleon.org/en/history-of-the-two-empires/paintings/2-bonaparte-visiting-the-plague-victims-of-jaffa/.
“Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers.” Study.com | Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers, https://study.com/academy/lesson/french-revolution-propaganda-art-posters.html.
Zelazko, Alicja. "Liberty Leading the People". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Liberty-Leading-the-People. Accessed 14 March 2022.
Pirola, Luca. “Napoleon: A Biography through the Propaganda Paintings.” Medium, Medium, 7 Mar. 2019, https://prof-pirola.medium.com/napoleon-a-biography-through-the-propaganda-paintings-cf144af9860f.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and commentary on neoclassical artwork. Your blog mentions how Napoleon Crossing the Alps, By Jacques-Louis David, is well known. I did not know its existence until now, but I am glad your blog taught me about this particular painting and the story captured on the canvas. I have noticed that many classical era artworks have similar characteristics, such as curved lines; it is an exquisite technique.
ReplyDeleteRainna, I love how you used artworks that relate to each other. Your first image is about Napoleon and the "magnificent leader" he is; then, you continue the story with your second image, where Napoleon is helping others. I think this created fluidity with your blog, making it fun to read!
For your final artwork, you said that it was your favorite neoclassical painting. Would you want to own a copy of this painting and hang it in your house?