Being Patron of Jacques-Louis David - Term Paper Example

Patronage Project It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that art plays an important role in the development of the human civilization. However, one should keep in mind that often artists need to have a patron so that they talent would flourish. In this paper I will provide an account of my experience of being patron of Jacques-Louis David. This famous French painter was born in the middle of eighteenth century (Bordes 3). His life is truly an extraordinary one: he lived in the period when the political life of France was extremely unstable. Indeed, David was able to witness the First French Revolution as well as the emergence of the Empire of Napoleon. However, in the end he exiled himself to life a peaceful life away from politics. Speaking of his artistic practice, one might suggest that he was extremely passionate about the works that he did. David often needed a strong stimulus to provoke his inspiration. However, when the inspiration was achieved he was able to produce true masterpieces. His style is often referred to as neoclassicism. Indeed, after Rococo which was fascinated with frivolity and other experiments with out, David and some of this contemporaries sought ideas in the rigidity of the classic examples. That is why his style that returned the strict rules of art is called neoclassicism (Bietoletti 68). He was inspired by some of the best painters of the past. If one takes a close look at his legacy, one will be able to see that it reflects the desire of his contemporaries to shift the cultural paradigm. Indeed, while Rococo did satisfy the demands of the public to a certain extent, but the effect that it had was too intense. That is why gradually people grew tired of it. David and his followers provided a viable alternative: the paintings depicted the ancient history that everyone was able to relate to. Furthermore, the artist in question touched the topics that were quite interesting for his contemporaries: the desire to change the government was floating in the air; so, more and more people were willing to live in a republic. One should point out that Jacques-Louis David had a little disfigurement: he had a tumor in his face which prevented him from speaking properly; that is why he often perceived art as a proper tool of communication with the people. This tumor was a result of a fencing incident which changed his life for ever. David did not want to limit his talent to a particular studio. In spite of the fact that he was provided with numerous resources in France, he thought that true inspiration for writing picture about Romans (for example, Oath of the Horatii) could be found only in Rome. That is why he travelled a lot. It would not be a mistake to suggest that David had many pupils who worked together with him (Johnson 26). Keeping in mind their number, it is quite obvious to state that he was the most influential artist of his time in terms of impacting the talent of the people. Unlike other artists that tried to express their creative energy with the help of novel materials as well as techniques, David was always faithful to oil and canvas. He thought that they are everything that a true painter needs. In addition to that, he imitated the ancient masters who did not engage any novel techniques in their works. The style of works that were created by David is called neoclassicism and can be easily explained. Thus, the author followed the path of the masters of High Renaissance trying to restore the harmony as well as the seriousness of the themes that are depicted. Moreover, many of his works depict the contemporary political changes which is particularly valuable for the future generations. It would not be a mistake to suggest that it takes a considerable amount of time to create a painting of high quality. For example, the artist has to make several studies. That is why they usually prefer to depict events that have already become history. Nevertheless, David was different from many of his counterparts as he did not want to waste time and painting events that were about to become history. Of course, there are examples when some of his works were too epic to be finished. However, it was he who provided the public with aesthetic interpretation of the significant public events. Thus, his painting The Death of Marat allowed the public to take a different, artistic perspective on this tragedy. Now, it may be suitable to introduce myself a little bit. I would like to leave my name aside, saying that I am French. However, I am not a simply peasant: I am a radical who truly believes in the success of the upcoming Revolution. I am convinces that the works by David are able to reflect the nature of the future changes. At the present moment I am living in the times that are known as Ancien Régime: we have a King, but his can hardly be respected for the country is not flourishing (Hanson 135). Just like many my compatriots, I believe that monarchy is an outdated tradition that should be put down. I am currently living in Paris since this is the heart of the entire France. It is the political, social as well as artistic center. I think that the people who are residing in this town will be the major power of the future Revolution, just like the artists who will shape the artistic space for it. I am strongly convinced that there is a big difference between the Revolution that we experience in France and any other revolution in the world: while the former were primarily about changing the government, the French Revolution is closely connected to cultural life of the nation. As a result, people like David prepare the hearts of our compatriots for a change that is to come. His works are of extreme importance for the people as they belong to the new time. David is a well known person in Paris, he often visits various public events. That is why there is no problem in contacting him and asking to create a particular work for me. I know that liked doing such favors to people who are paying for such favors well. There is no need for me to go to his studio. If I want to see some of his works, I will always be able to visit the Salon and admire them. Furthermore, the Royal Academy has many of his works on display. In addition to that, if I order a painting from him, he will be glad to take it to my house so that there would not be any inconvenience for me. As it has already been states, it is not only me who is able to enjoy the works that were created by David: he is a popular artist and the public is able to see his works on a regularly basis (Anderson-Riedel 81). Every time a new painting by David is displayed, the public is fascinated by it. The observers feel with their hearts the passion that the artist put into the canvas and they are interested in the topics that are touched by him. All in all, people who truly love art often come to see works by him. By far, the Paris Salon plays a significant role in the art world of modernity. It expresses the latest views on art and the painters are able to reach the maximum number of people with their works with the help of it. There is no doubt that the Salon is the heart of the cultural life of the entire Europe. This means that it was able to gather together the most talented people of our times and allowed them to express their creative energy freely, providing the public with the much needed aesthetic satisfaction. The Salon is responsible for facilitating the cultural development of our nation, transforming ideas into real masterpieces. Furthermore, it provides various talented people like David with an opportunity to leave their trace in history and make sure that the message that they send to the future generation is maintained and heard. Speaking of the role of the patron, one might suggest that David truly needs one. There are several reasons for that. First of all, the painter in question likes to create works that require a considerable amount of resources. That is why his patron will have to cover the expenditures. Secondly, there is a considerable amount of politics in his works; so, a patron might be needed to protect him from the opposing side. The role of artists organizations is tremendous: it acknowledges the significance of the person in the contemporary art world and allows one to reach new audiences which ultimately leads to emergence of his good reputation. The training of the artist is very important as well. Thus, David was able to win Prix de Rome which provided him with the necessary experience and a unique ability to study the great masters first hand. Furthermore, the original teacher of the artist often shapes the artistic vision of the latter. Thus, David was influenced by a person who was tired of Rococo and wanted to return to the ancient traditions. All this contributed to his artistic technique: David made a conscious effort to imitate the masters of the past and present the audience with a level which was praised by people before. The paintings that he made dealt with significant historical events and their message was as important as the high quality of the work. Another point that should be mentioned is that David showed that the significance of the classical work can always be appreciated. In other words, the life of this painter sets an example which proves that the public might be tired of frivolity and will be delighted to perceive pictures that were produced by talented painters who followed the guidelines of the ancient masters. Therefore, David was able to confirm that the classical themes and the classical approach to art is what is really eternal and will always be respected by the public. As one can clearly see, being the patron of Jacques-Louis David is a great honor. I feel that I help him to produce many valuable masterpieces and will contribute to the development of France in particular as well as the entire humanity in general. Works Cited Anderson-Riedel, Susanne. Creativity and Reproduction: Nineteenth Century Engraving and the Academy. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars, 2010. Print. Bietoletti, Silvestra. Neoclassicism and Romanticism. New York, NY: Sterling Pub., 2009. Print. Bordes, Philippe. Jacques-Louis David: Empire to Exile. New Haven, NY: Yale UP ;, 2005. Print. Hanson, Paul R. Historical Dictionary of the French Revolution. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow, 2004. Print. Johnson, Dorothy. Jacques-Louis David, the Farewell of Telemachus and Eucharis. Los Angeles, CA: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1997. Print. Read More