Analyze Oath of the Horatii - Essay Example

Their mothers and sisters are fearful for the warrior’s lives as depicted at the bottom right of the painting. The legend depicts one of the Horatii sisters to be engaged to one of the Curatii brothers. During the contest, two of the Horatii brothers were instantly killed, but Publius feigned flight and managed to kill his wounded pursuers piecemeal. The sister wept with sorrow, upon hearing that her brother Publius had killed her lover. Seeing her tears, Publius the surviving Horatius brother was horrified that she was cursing Rome, stabbed his sister calling upon death on any Roman woman who mourned the enemy (Livy, 1978).

The painting by David depicts heroism. In this case, the painting shows the three sons as they give the salute and swear to protect their city. In line with this, the French government used the painting as a means of pre-French revolution propaganda, to promote a sense of nationalism. The main aim of the government was to bring its citizens together and build loyalty for their country. Hence, Jacques-Louis David created the painting in order to inspire feelings of heroism and loyalty within the French people.

The Horatius brothers are risking their lives in order to protect their city of Rome, despite the woeful and sorrowful faces of the women. David attempts to give his people a sense of sacrifice. Through his painting, the Oath of the Horatii is aimed at promoting loyalty and sacrifice for the country eventually leading to the rise of outstanding heroes during the French Revolution. Hence, the painting required the French to take arms and swear to protect their country as the brothers did in the painting (“The Oath of the Horatii,” 2011).

Jacques-Louis David presented the first work of art in a new style called the rococo style. The painting has a broad and basic composition, with the full-scale figures