The painting was done by Jacques Louis David back in 1974, and later was accredited for having spurred up the French revolution. It depicts a man (Horatius) standing between a group of three men (his sons) and women holding three swords above the heads of the three men. The three men are dressed like soldiers symbolizing authority. The man in the middle with the three swords is having his back facing the women which symbolizes that women are not important in the struggle to unchain the society from the manacles of a war threat. The women let their emotions show while the men were showcasing their heroic duty. The sons swore to protect Rome with their lives. The painting thought tries to foreshadow that only one of the sons will survive the war thus painting him having clothes with colors similar to that of his father.
The background is not emphasized while the front figures get emphasized to showcase their importance, while dull colors indicate a tragedy and not happy moments.
The Third of May
“Third of May was painted by Francisco de Goya in May 1808. The painting was done to depict what happened in Madrid on third of May 1808 during the war against the French invasion when many of the Spanish soldiers were killed. In the painting depicts the French pointing guns at the Spaniards raising their hands in submission. Some of the Spaniards are bowing down in shame as they cannot rise and fight for their country. The background shows dark clouds symbolizing devastation while the palace is dilapidated.
In the painting I’d rather be the French soldiers who are on the verge of victory after having fought for their country against the resurgent Spaniards, they have managed to fight the Spaniards into their territory and captured their palace; a heroic art.
References
David, Jacques-Louis. The Oath of Horatii. The Oath of Horatii. Paris, 1784.
Francisco, Goya. The Third of May. The Third of May. Madrid, 1814.
