Enlightenment And Romantic Art Analysis

The Enlightenment and Romantic eras were two drastically different times, not only in artistic style, but in terms of social and political circumstances. To understand the differences between the eras, we can begin by studying artwork from both eras. The Death of Marat, painted by Jacques Louis David, and the Third of May, painted by Francisco Goya, showcase some of the similarities and differences between Enlightenment and Romantic artists and how their artwork is influenced by the social and political circumstances of those periods.

Jean-Paul Marat, the title subject of David’s work, was a prominent figure during the time of the French Revolution. A self-taught physician, he put his scientific career on hold during the time of French political

change to devote himself entirely to the cause of the Third Estate. He was largely inspired by What is the Third Estate, a published work written by clergyman Abbe Sieyes that advocated for the lower class during the time of the Revolution. Marat was well known for his political publications. They were fiery, passionate works of literature that invoked political activism and revolutionary support, as well as violence and mayhem. Unsurprisingly, those who supported the king during the Revolution did not view Marat with the same enthusiasm as his followers. Charlotte Corday was a young Royalist who felt that it was her duty to sacrifice her life in order to save the country of France. Marat had been detained to his bathtub as he had contracted a skin disease earlier in his life that required him to soak in a medicinal bath. From there, he spent the later years of his life. Corday was easily able to gain access to Marat’s house, using the guise that she had a list of conspirators for Marat to expose. Upon encountering Marat, she stabs him in the chest, leading to the famous painting. (“Reflecting on the Life of a Revolutionary”)
Francisco Goya’s Third of May is an emotionally provocative painting depicting the plight of Spanish civilians during Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, around the time he was expanding the French empire under his rule. The king of Spain at the time, King Charles IV, attempted to flee to South America, but angry citizens stopped him and he was forced to abdicate the throne to his son, Ferdinand VII. Napoleon, preying upon the weakness of the Spanish monarchy, invited the two to France. Fearing underlying evil motivations, the citizens of Spain rose up against the French army, which is the scene being depicted in Goya’s work. Two days later, Napoleon forced the two to abdicate in favor of himself, and Napoleon would ultimately install his brother Joseph to the Spanish throne. (“15 Things You Should Know About The Third of May”)
Both of these paintings are moving memorabilia of their respective eras.

They both utilize symbols of political martyrs in order to illustrate the devastation and chaos of their corresponding revolutions and wars. Jacques Louis David was asked by the revolutionary government to create representations of political martyrs of the time, and Marat was one of the most infamous figures. (“Jacques Louis David, The Death of Marat”) However, in the Third of May, the martyr is not a well-known political activist, but rather a desperate Spanish civilian asking for the mercy of Napoleon’s troops. Both artists employ the use of emotional chiaroscuro to dramatize the moments being put on display. The light and dark highlight the movement and subjects of both works. In The Death of Marat, the light is focused heavily on Marat’s face and on the list in his hand. The light is softer on Marat himself, as he is the subject of the painting who is being honored by the painting. The light is harsher on the list that Corday gave to him, metaphorically representing the upheaval between the classes during the French revolution. Had it not been for the list and Corday, Marat would have lived long enough to write more publications that would have further fueled the fire of the Revolution. (“Jacques-Louis David: The Death of Marat”) In Goya’s piece, the light is illuminating the pleading Spanish civilian. The subject of the painting asserts the devastation and chaos of the Napoleonic regime, as well as

the political, social, and economic damage it has caused to many nations. The colors of both pieces tend to lean towards a darker scale. The overall color schemes are more bleak and gloomy, adding to the emotional depth of the paintings. On a larger scale, the dismal tones represent the emotions of the societies and their strife during the given times. The assassination of a widely popular political voice and an invasion by an intimidating adversary are both grim stains on the histories of both the French and the Spanish, and both pieces have become epic political symbols for their respective time periods.
With similarities comes differences, and the differences between the two are not quite as subtle as the similarities.

For example, the subject of Goya’s painting is portrayed more like a Christ figure, bringing in a religious component into the painting not seen in David’s work. The Spanish were largely Catholic at the time, which makes linking a political martyr to a religious martyr in a court-ordered painting unsurprising. The subject in question even has a wound on right hand, much like a stigmata and Jesus Christ. (“15 Things You Should Know About The Third of May”) Marat’s painting has little to no religious content or symbolism. The styles of both differ as well. Looking at the Third of May, you can see the emotion that runs throughout the entire piece just by one glance. The vivid look of grief and terror on the main Spanish civilian’s face, the distinct facial expressions of the other Spanish civilians, the dead bodies placed on the side, and the concealment of the Napoleonic troops’ faces all add to the drama and emotional weight of the painting. Romantic era painters convey a lot of feeling in their works, compared to the Neoclassical era painters. In The Death of Marat, the techniques of Neoclassic artwork are much more apparent. More angular shapes, such as rectangles and triangles, can be seen in the piece. There is less emotion seen, and more reality conveyed. Stylistically, we see more Greek and Romanesque ideals in the details of David’s work. The details of

Marat and his surroundings are more refined and precise. David uses substantially less color in his painting compared to Goya, whose variation in color makes for a more intense scene. David’s lack of color provides a more somber mood.
The artists themselves may have likely been influenced by their own participation in politics during the time of their paintings. David was an activist himself during the time of the Revolution. David was involved with the Jacobins, who were an avidly violent revolutionary group. David also supported the execution of King Louis XVI. His support for the opposing class against the king is likely why he chose to glorify Marat in his painting, rather than condemn him. In his painting, Marat himself is idealized, and his skin shows no sign of disease. (“Jacques Louis David, The Death of Marat”) Goya, on the other hand, was a court painter during the French invasion, under Joseph Bonaparte’s rule. After the French had been expelled from Spain, Goya painted The Third of May in order to commemorate the Spanish for standing up to such an aggressive adversary. (“15 Things You Should Know About The Third of May”)
Political strife has largely decorated much of European history, so grand political paintings of war and strife are not at all uncommon. They symbolize much of what the European countries have persevered through. Art has always been an expression of cultures and their times, and The Death of Marat and the Third of May are some of the best representations of the past and Europe’s spectacular history.