Jacques-Louis David: The Beginning Of The French Revolution

Art allows us to communicate more than just logic, it allows us to move people emotionally, and influence change throughout the world. Jacques-Louis David was a 19th century painter, who is considered to be the father of neoclassical painting, which moved artwork away from the old rococo style. He was a strong supporter of the French Revolution, and a close friend to Robespierre, the leader of a revolutionary group, the Jacobins, that he was also a member of. The French Revolution was the overthrowing of the absolute monarchy led by Louis XVI from the years 1789 to 1799, which eventually led to the end of the absolute monarchy. The revolution came to an end in late 1799, when Napoleon Bonaparte took power. Ultimately, Jacques-Louis David used his artwork as political propaganda, which supported the three main ideals

“The oath...marks the beginning of the French Revolution,” helps us understand that the only way the Revolution could begin and prosper was if the ideal of equality was addressed; which can be seen in this sketch. Finally, the usage of “a unity manifesting itself as quantity,” shows that the fight for equality for each estate had sprung from only the representatives fighting, to the entire 95% bourgeoisie population fighting for equal treatment. Therefore, it is abundantly clear through the preceding interpretations, that the ideal of equality, which was prominent throughout the French Revolution, is reflected through David’s Tennis Court Oath, which emphasizes the equal treatment of each estate. Jacques-Louis David used his artwork to stir up an intense need for liberty in the people of France, which was representative of the fight for freedom against an unjust authority throughout the French Revolution. In 1789, Louvre, Paris, David painted La Mort de Socrate, known in English as, The Death of Socrates. Like many of the historical paintings throughout the 18th century, David’s piece portrays the execution