Analyzing David's 'Oath Of The Horatii'

In the “Oath of the Horatii”, David dimmed the background, focusing on the lighting which rays on the figures. The shallow shadowing generates a sense of clarity; figures are clearly to see. In addition, David only employs a few of dull colors by not destructing the story. The brushstrokes are invisible in David’s painting. Just as Neoclassicism are displaying the reason and the classical subjects, the intensive brushstrokes may distract the focusing point of the painting that damaged the significant of the story. But contrasting to Romanticism, the vigorous brushworks are valued to artists as the artists are pursuing to emphasis on emotion and imagination. Goya utilizes a broad and fluid brushwork to paint to strengthen the emotional expression.