Comparing The French Revolution And Neoclassical Art

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The period of time during the late 17th and early 18th century was an amazingly busy and radically changing time in Europe, especially in France. You had, during this time, both the Industrial Revolution, as well as, the Age of Enlightenment, both taking place. These events rapidly changed the why people lived, in addition to, how they thought of their surroundings. Careers as merchants and global trade caused a rapid expanse in the middle class, causing art to be plentiful due to the increased number of individuals that could afford it. The French Revolution also took place during this shift from Neoclassical to Romanticism. These two eras of art were very different in their subject matter and belief systems surrounding the art, but two types of art that also shared much in common. The French Revolution came at a critical shift in art eras, and consequently was influential on the art at the time. Many artists such as Jacques-Louis David stayed relevant throughout the transition. …show more content…

This painting display powerful imagery that sets about to help secularize the French Monarchy, as well as, the religious institutions of the time (Harris & Zucker, 2014). This painting is a staunch opposite of the preceding Rococo era paintings which depicted the elaborate and luxurious lifestyles of the aristocracy, and depicts a martyr of the French Revolution. In the painting Marat, a publisher who helped spread the ideals of the revolution to the public, has been assassinated while in his bath (Harris & Zucker, 2014). There is also a distinction from the classical and Byzantine art and this particular piece as this is a painting political martyr, not a religious