Jacques-Louis David

WRITE a blog post in which you first identify and analyze Simon Schama's thesis from The Power of Art: Jacques-Louis David and second test it by selecting a piece of David's art and analyzing the purpose – propaganda or not – of your selected work.

Schama's thesis said that art was a clear form of propaganda, because it is an easy way to exaggerate and express opinion. By slightly bending what is true in a visual manner, creates a conclusion that is forced upon the interpreter. David was certainly a proof to Simon Schama's thesis from The Power of Art: Jacques-Louis David because he made his paintings inflicting his own personal bias. The way he

painted created a new opinion for viewers of the paintings.

This painting of Jesus Christ on the cross is a great example of Schama's thesis. In this painting David draws the picture how his personal interpretation of the moment was, or even an exaggerated version of this instance. Christ's crucifixion is shown in this drawing as very high and mighty. In the background of the painting there is the city behind him, and the face that he is above it illustrates his mightiness. David shows his bias here through his painting, and many people who view the picture change their opinion(s) to match what is reflected in the painting.

The little Propaganda That Could

In the video "The Power of Art", it featured a famous artist named Jacques-Louis David. During the French Revolution his paintings emerged as not only a way to express his voice in the war, but a way to keep his stake in the French government. Although his motives may seem simple, the narrator exposes his ideas and work as a propagandist move. His thesis implies that his work was a way to express his bias on different situations in the French Revolution.

When looking at the picture above and noticing the thesis the narrator implied, you notive that the painters bias come out at you! The picture implies that Robespiere (The highest one) is displayed as almost superior to all. He has the background characters almost haling before him. It's propagandist because he brings about a misleading idea of Robespiere.

Jaques- Louis David

Simon Schama's thesis from The Power of the Art: Jaque-Louis David said that even though David's paintings were beautiful, they were used as propaganda pieces, rather then ones that showed how life really was. Instead of painting realistically, his art pieces showed life in a glorified and heroic manner. David betrayed the truth in reality, even though the thought he was "re-educating the moral balance."

This painting, called Napoleon Crossing the Alps at Grand Saint Bernard was made in somewhere in 1800-1801. it depicts Napoleon crossing the Alps in a very clearly exaggerated manner. I believe that this painting was used as a piece of propaganda because it expands and glorifies the truth. This painting does not show the hardships that Napoleon would inevitably find crossing a mountain range, nor does it show the actual size of the Emperor. Napoleon was a very small man, yet in this picture, he is as big, if not bigger than the horse that he is riding. Also, the manner in which Napoleon is painted shows that he is ready to go on and conquer more and that everyone should follow. This painting conveys a message that David wanted people to follow, therefore making it a piece of propaganda.

Jacques Louis David

In the short film, The Power of Art: Jacques-Louis David, the narrator Simon Schama has a strong feeling that the famous French painter, Jacques Louis David is more than an innocent artist. His thesis is that David was not innocent in his paintings, he declares that David was a manipulative man, who used his art to gain him power in government and to keep his own life. A prime example of the use of his paintings is portrait of Napoleon titled, Napoleon at the St. Bernard Pass, drawn in 1801 for Napoleon. This painting is one of many of his works where he portrays the subject of his paintings to be a noble, robust figure. This painting is specially important because he used paintings of Napoleon like this to appease Napoleon and to gain power under his rule, eventually becoming the official artist for Napoleon. It exemplifies his use of propaganda because it portrays Napoleon as a valiant and righteous figure, willing to lead France to peace. It is meant to be used as a ways of persuading the French people to accept Napoleon as the model human being and great ruler of France.

Jaques Louis David

The thesis that Simon Schama had in the documentary was:
When art is viewed just as art, its beauty is seen, but when art is invovled in politics, the artist's true, corrupt intentions are brought out.

Jaques Louis David was a brilliant artist, but the main purpose his art served as propoganda before, during, and after the French Revolution. One prime example of this is his painting of Napolean at the St. Bernard's Pass. This was made in 1801, twelve years after the revolution. but a short two years into Napoleon's reign.

This painting's purpose was to boost Napoleon's image to the people of France, to show how good of a person he was and how he would improve France. Since Napoleon had just come to power, some people might have been skeptical, and this painting was targeted toward those skeptics and win them onto Napoleon's side. Napoleon is shown on his horse, which is standing on its hind legs, a pose many war heroes are shown in. In the background, there are storm clouds, which could symbolize evils that Napoleon would "fight." Also, there some other people dressed like Napoleon, but struggling to stay alive. With this, David is sending the image of how Napoleon is better than comparable rulers, or any people who try to oppose him. In this painting, Napoleon is in a confident, and triumphant pose. Jaques Louis David was Napoleon's personal artist/propogandist so making Napoleon look good was basically his job.

In this painting, David is saying that Napoleon is the one who will rid France of its problems.

Jacques Louis David

The show we watched today in class by Simon Schama was melodramatic and overplayed, but it nevertheless, it had a strong thesis. It told us that Jacques Louis David was a man with highly questionable morals and made even more questionable choices in life, but was powerful because of his ability to influence people through his paintings and make them see his point of view. Regardless of whether he was a good or bad person, this certainly makes him an interesting character. Many of his paintings were used as political propaganda, including his painting of the Tennis Court Oath. It was made just as the revolution was starting to warm up, before it’s motives were corrupted by power. This painting is of the moment when they first start rising up, they have yet to kill thousands of people and they have everything to gain. This shows in the painting, and it contrasts with his later paintings of the revolution that show darker themes. Jacques Louis David uses a kind of spotlight in his paintings to draw the attention to exactly where he wants it to, and this one is directed at the man on the pedestal reading off their new declaration. Outside the tennis court is darker and the sky is stormier, representing the corruption on the outside with the royalty and the purity on the inside with the Third estate. Everyone is reaching towards the man standing above them, showing a unity with those in power that had not been seen in France before. Although the man reading is standing above the people around him, there is no irony in this painting because there are others at his height, he is not ruling above them. This unity and equality is rarely shown in other paintings that depict the revolution, usually there are lots of rankings. But I think this represents how pure the beginning of the French Revolution really was.

Jacques-Louis David

In the film we watched in class, Simon Schama spoke about the Revolutionary artist Jacques-Louis David. His central statement was that although David's morales and actions may have been questionable, he was still a prolific and incredibly influential figure of the French Revolution. He had amazing capability for expression in his paintings, making him a great propogandist. David could convey any message he wanted, and this skill both got him in trouble and helped him out of it on multiple occasions. This is especially demonstrated in his famous painting Napoleon at the St. Bernard Pass 1801. The picture involves Napoleon, pictured two years after his rise to power. He is sitting atop a great white horse with his finger pointing forward and up. This image portrays one of power, grace, and hope. Napoleon's sureness and incredible gracefullness while balancing on his horse makes the viewer feel as if he is a great and powerful man who we can only hope will govern our lives. The ominous storm clouds in the background make it appear as if Napoleon himself is fighting back the darkness, a brave knight fighting for all of humanity. This painting must have singlehandedly convinced many people that Napoleon was the single person all of France should be entrusted to.