Simon Schama's thesis was that art can be used to manipulate and influence people's opinions, by portraying people and objects in a light the painter wishes the viewer to see them. This could be applied specifically to Jaques-Louis David, as done in the part of the movie we watched, but is also applicable to any form of art used as propaganda. he shows it by using David's paintings as examples, especially his painting of Marat. The thesis is proved especially true in this painting, with many small details that add up to show the viewer exactly what David wants them to see.
Picture: (from 1801, shortly after Napoleon's rise to power)
This Painting proves the thesis even farther. The site I used does not have a date, but it would have been painted after the Tennis Court Oath, most likely during the revolution. It is a very successful piece of propaganda, portraying the creators of the Tennis Court Oath in the best light possible. The light in the room makes them look very angelic, which makes them seem more like the saviors David thought they were, rather than painting them to show how hectic the organization probably was. The man in the center, presumably a leader of the organization, is portrayed even standing the rest of the room, highlighting his importance, and making him appear more powerful, and by extension, making him seem more worthy of power to the viewer. The colors in the painting are muted and virtually non-existent, which gives more focus to the actual content of the painting, rather than simply appreciating its beauty. This makes the other techniques I described more effective, because the viewer has to look for a longer length of time to really absorb the painting rather than just being able to glance, notice that they like the color palette, and move on.
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