Oath Of Horatii Analysis

This essay will discuss what is Enlightenment followed by the impact of the Enlightenment upon on art. A movement occurred in 17th and 18th centuries that emphasises reason and individualism rather than tradition in Europe which is known as Enlightenment (Oxford Living Dictionaries, n.d.). The art form and style change from Rococo to Neoclassic, showing the impact of religion on art would be challenged. The formation of the art academy is influenced by the idea of efficiency, standardising the form of the art and skill which improve the efficiency of the art production. The impact of the Enlightenment will be illustrated through three examples which are the Oath of the Horatii, The Apotheosis of Homer and Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump.
He chose the Roman history as the background o represent a heroic story. On the left hand side of the picture, the three brothers swear to the father that they will protect the country or die, and the right hand side, there are women who fear of the worst situation to happen. The Oath of the Horatii is the first masterpiece of a different style, breaking with the rococo style (Louvre, n.d.). The story of the oath is told by David, who organise all the figures in the painting stand or sit in front of the roman atrium dominated by three arches (Louvre, n.d.). The three roman arches at the back that keeps our attention focused on the main action (Louvre, n.d.) and also cohesive to the three men who make the oath. Furthermore, the three Roman arches separate this piece of work into three sections. The first section on the left is the three brothers who oath to protect the homeland. The middle section is the old father who is on a platform and one arm outstretched. Then the right hand section is the group of women who sit at the steps. These set out the emphasis on the architecture which indicates that the rationality within David’s
For example, Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump, an oil on canvas painting painted by Joseph Wright in 1768. The painting is showing that the bird was panicking about the withdrawal from the vessel through the pump. A lay audience, including men, women and children, gathered together to watch the early experiment which is performed by the longhaired scientist, showing air is vital to life (Schlick, 2005). The observer has different emotions towards the experiment, including the negative emotions such as frightening ad anxiety (two young girls) and the positive emotions such as admiring and willing to absorbing scientific knowledge (the young and middle aged gentleman, as well as the parental protection (Schlick, 2005). The painting clearly shows that the entire experiment conducts under the artificial lamp light instead of the moonlight. The theme set as the bird would die because of the depletion of oxygen would challenge the Christian interpretation of the world by Enlightenment science (Baudot, 2012). This new discovery of a visual style shows blend science with religion to create a special effect. Telling a story between science and art, the primary intention of the art not about the wonder of scientific discovery, but ‘the haunting presence of religious questions and artistic tradition in the new experimental science’ (Baudot, 2012, p.