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Jacques-Louis David Oath Of Horatii

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Jacques-Louis David Oath Of Horatii
Art Criticism
Jacques-Louis David, Oath of Horatii, 1785, Oil on canvas, 3.26 m x 4.2 m, Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
Step 1: Description
The painting depicts an architectural structure with brick walls on both sides and columns and arches in the background. The piece is divided into three spaces by the two columns. The first section consists of three men in the foreground, with their arms raised up towards three swords. The three swords are held by a central man in the middle. A few women sit slouched in a forlorn pose, one closely holding children. (Aleena and Abigail)
Elements:
Color is also an attributing factor in the way the warm and bright clothing overpowers against the dull coloured walls. This adds depth to the painting and makes the figures in the foreground more highlighted. The men are garbed in red and blue while the women in softer, paler colours. (Abigail) Space is also used effectively in this piece in a variety of ways. First, the two columns in the background gives an …show more content…
Three men on one side, three women on the other, and one man standing straight in the middle create an aesthetically pleasing balance without being too bluntly symmetrical. (Abigail)
Movement is another principle that is used proficiently in this piece. The brick walls on either side of the piece acts as a framing device and brings the viewers eyes into the piece. Also, the columns and the arches in the background leads the eye to the central focal point. Additionally, the arms of the three men lead towards the three swords. All of the people are positioned in the way that they are facing the central focal point, the swords. Moreover upon close examination, the eyes of the men are also leading towards the central swords. Therefore, movement pulls the eye from outside edges of the brick walls, through the columns and the men, into the three swords in the center. (Aleena)
Step 3:
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