Jean-Louis David + Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Question :   In what ways and to what extent is an understanding of historical context important in approaching the works of (a) David and (b) Rousseau?




      \"The Lictors Returning to Brutus the Bodies of his Sons\", is a painting by the French artist Jean-Louis David in 1789. Having led the fight which overthrew the monarchy and established the Roman Republic. Brutus tragically saw his sons participate in a plot to restore the monarchy. As a judge, he was called upon to render the verdict, and without hesitation condemned his two sons to death.








        The full title of this work is \"Brutus Returning Home after having Sentenced his Sons for Plotting a Tarquinian Restoration and Conspiring against Roman Freedom; the Lictors brint there Bodies to be Buried.\"








        In 1789, for Jean-Louis David to bring up such a subject was majorly controversial and reveals how deeply committed the artist was to the new ideas and enlightement principals. Indeed, had the revolution not occured, this picture could never have been exhibited publicly. After the fall of the bastille, David\'s pictures were seen as a republican manifesto, and greatly raised David\'s reputation








     


      In order to fully understand David\'s artwork, it is important to posess a certain amount of historical knowledge on the various events that took place during the artists career, mainly the French Revolution. Behind each of his paintings is a story of historical importance. However, it is also very likely that David\'s paintings were often misinterpreted simply due to the fact that someone didn\'t fully grasp the significance of the artwork.









     


    Like \"The Lictors Returning to Brutus the Bodies of his Sons\", as recorded by the Roman historian Livy, David\'s paintings covered many different historical era\'s. \"The Death of Marat\",...