David

David: The Nude: Gender and the Ideal

Robespierre dictator

Change in French Socio-Economic Climate
Revolution-pursuit of lofty puritanical ideals
Directory more humble concerns of safety and happiness

Directory (5) 1795-99
Unable to deal with France’s problems
Consulate (coup by Napoleon) executive branch with 3 consuls
1800 Napoleon elected consul
1802 re-elected granted position for life
1804 Emperor (could pass power to his son)

Napoleon’s two main goals
  1. Reform administrative duties of French state (national and regional govt/civil service, education)
  2. Establish French political, economic, ideological/cultural power
          Ended ongoing war in other countries as result of Revolution with Treaty of Amiens 1802
          Establish market for French goods-colonies and trading posts around the world (this however caused conflict/war with neighboring countries and by 1810 he ruled Netherlands, Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Austria, modern Germany, and Poland
1814 Napoleon attacked on all fronts
attempted comeback 1815
Defeated Waterloo (Belgium) exiled again

Napoleon had no particular love of art but used art to bolster image and regime through propaganda
Napoleon Museum
      Vendome Column 130 ft bronze 1806/11 Paris (scenes from battle of Austerlitz and defeat of Austria and Russia)
Arch de Triumphe Jean Francis Chargrin 1836
Temple of Glory (Church of La Madeleine)
All are an attempt to identify him with Rome
Empire Style (last phase of Neoclassicism)
Egyptian art 1798 egyptian expedition/Vivant Denon

David
1794-5 jailed
David was a member of the Convention and a faithful partisan of Robespierre. In 1794, after Robespierre's downfall, he was imprisoned.
Hoped painting would demonstrate he was a man of peace and thus in tune with the spirit of the age
Made first painter to Emperor
Paints Coronation of Napoleon 3 years to complete/20 x 30 feet 1804
Napoleon Crossing Alps at Saint Bernard Pass...