Pest House Of Jaff Art Analysis

Descriptive One of the most amazing pieces of artwork located at the New Orleans Museum of Art is the sketch for “The Pest House of Jaffa”. This piece of artwork was done by the French history and neoclassical painter Antoine-Jean Gros in 1804. The painting is an oil painting on canvas and has the approximate dimensions of 12 x 24 inches. By the order of Napoleon Bonaparte the painting was commissioned by Vivant Denon. Antoine-Jean Gros completed this sketch in preparation for the final artwork depicting Napoleon Bonaparte in the city of Jaffa visiting soldiers that are infected with the bubonic plague. In the painting it depicts a building with no ceiling in view, two windows and one door. The room is filled with soldiers that
Observing the artwork you begin to clearly distinguish the content that Antoine-Jean Gros intended to reveal to the viewer as the subject matter. The subject matter from the content reveal the compassion by Napoleon as a leader to his sick subordinates. Images so powerful such as this one elevated the leader to most likely a hero status in his time, he gives his subordinates hope and faith with his presence alone. It also has elevated him to a godlike status with the light from the window directly behind him embracing him all around. Many times in personal experiences I have seen this scenario repeated during my military service. Always at that particular moment when morale is at its lowest it is followed by that perfectly timed visit from the Commanding Officer. In these such visits those welcome words of reassurance from him that all things will be alright and also that we are to succeed in our mission at hand. He would always take time to take questions from his soldiers and then personally talk to any member part of any heroic act or wounded during the conflict. The representation of Napoleon extending his arm to aid a sick soldier also adds courage to his actions. The courage that he is does not fear the sickness that has caused so much suffering to his soldiers. When looking further more at the art work you understand that not only displays of acts of courage and compassion but also of the suffering. The woman in the painting are attending the sick with their face partially covered as if they were afraid to breath the smell of disease in the building. One other aspect of the painting that grabs your eye sight is the soldier at the door, he seems to be trying to communicate to Napoleon. Antoine-Jean Gros brought many elements together to represent suffering, compassion, faith and hope. He clearly attempted to represent Napoleon in a manner that would benefit him in his future