French Art : A Testimony Of The Fight For Freedom

During America’s fight for liberty, the French were known as its right-hand man. Support from the French was always given regardless of how dangerous

When Benjamin Franklin arrived in France he was embraced by the aristocracy. Most of his time in France was spent with intellectuals and the upper class. Many people found this strange because he was an advocate for the common good, but did not spend time with ‘peasants’. Benjamin Franklin’s goal was to obtain French aid, so there would not have been any benefits of fighting for the poor in France when he needed the French court’s assistance in America.

The historical context behind the “Liberty Leading the People”, Delacroix witness the growing instability in Paris, as the

The time between World Wars was a tense and significant point in the history of humanity, especially for the European continent. France had suffered immensely during the First World War, and the psyche of the nation was deeply shaken. The result was, for some, a desire for a return to the comparatively peaceful state felt prior to the War. The “Call to Order” as it became known embodied this effort. Many artistic movements were abandoned, temporarily or permanently. Such was the fate of the Futurist movement, which somewhat naively glorified all of the things that had made World War I so incredibly destructive to the continent, technology, and violence. A resurgence of classical styled art followed. Just as the populous sought

Among the most prevalent, lasting, and controversial figures that came about in the wake of the French Revolution is Napoleon Bonaparte: his reign that followed the overthrow of the French monarchy would prove to be one of the most formative periods in French history and would serve as an epicenter from which the notions of liberty and equality would radiate throughout Europe. His reign would also spark controversy, and some would view him as a hypocritical tyrant no greater than the monarch he replaced. Regardless, Napoleon’s brilliance, military prowess, and competent ruling abilities would cement him as one of history’s most important figures.

Jacques-Louis David is an artist that I can really relate too. Unlike some artists, I am able to see the messages in David’s paintings. I respect the fact he over came adversity with his speak impediment and was able to have the courage to stand up for his beliefs and rise to become a respected member of society. His paintings were a part of the French Revolution. Some people avoid adversity, David thrived on it.

FROM THE REINASSANCE TO THE FRENCH REVOLUTION / MODERN

In the American war of independence in 1775 to 1783 France directed its forces to assist the Americans. French aid was pivotal in compelling the British to surrender at Yorktown in 1781. However although the Americans gained much from France’s support it led to no successful tangible results for France but it had

Jacques-Louis David, who was an influential painter of the Neoclassical style, exemplifies the impact that the French Revolution had on art. Considered

To begin with, “The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a period of ideological, political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French polity, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on Enlightenment principles of republicanism, citizenship, and rights.” (New World Encyclopedia, n.d.) As a result of this French Revolution, the painting and/or sculpture were affected in any way. I believe that the purpose of art was drastically changed during this time; the art became freer to present the messages.

Art and the French Revolution The French Revolution was both influenced by art and influenced art. Prior to the revolution the art style that was popular in France was Rococo, an art style that depicted the life of leisure enjoyed by the aristocracy. Displaying luxury, excessive indulgence and a lack of seriousness, those who were not involved in the aristocratic lifestyle could not help but feel it was immoral and indecent. The fact that the aristocracy were flaunting their luxurious lifestyle while the average citizen was suffering with inflation and over taxation angered many.

The artists portrayed emotions and expression in their work which was a newer type of art form that used physical features and colour to portray messages rather than having them hidden such as in Neoclassical Art. Considering that Romanticism did not take off until the French Revolution had begun there was very little influence to spark the revolution but there were plenty art pieces that continued to inspire the rebellion. Eugène Delacroix was one of the most influential painters of the romanticism movement. One of his well-known paintings is entitled, Liberty Leading the People which was created in 1830. Although this painting was created during the second French Revolution also known as the July Revolution, it was a symbolic painting made to show the people liberty would lead them to freedom. In this painting, the first thing that is usually noticed is the woman who holds a musket and the French flag depicting the stance of a ruler, and the Phrygian cap is a symbol of freedom. This was a custom in Roman history where freed slaves would wear the same cap to signify their liberated status. This was not a scene that actually occurred in battle, there was no woman, but she is a symbol or an allegory that represents liberty and

The French revolution played a very important role when it came to shaping the way art and sculpture was done in France. There was the rise of Neoclassicism which was linked to the Revolution. Artists like Jacques-Louis David served in propaganda programs of the revolutionary factions as well as Napoleon’s. His art was influenced by artists such as Caravagio and Poussin and adopted their contrasts to color, clear tones and firm contours. “He gave his figures structural mass and arranged them friezelike in emphatic compositions that were meant to inspire his fellow citizens to noble action.”

Eugène Delacroix commissioned 'Liberty Leading the People' in attempts to heighten the people’s morale within the French Revolution [1830]. Within this work, he uses the allegorical figure of ‘lady liberty’ to lead and unite the masses in order to stand up to the social injustices plaguing their society during this time period. The use of contrasting colors outlining the painting highlights ‘lady liberty’ and her symbolic meaning

Eugene Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People is an oil painting that stands at 8′ 6″ x 10′ 8″, commemorating the July Revolution of France in 1830. The painting, when first displayed at the 1831 Salon, an annual exhibition of French Art, was met with strong reactions of disapproval due to his Romanticism influences and was later banned from public viewing. The 19th century experienced a transition from the Enlightenment Period of logic and reason, to the Romanticism artistic movement, of which Eugene Delacroix was a leading figure. Romanticism, as explained by Kathryn Calley Galitz, emphasized subjectivity, imagination, and emotion, much of which is evident in Liberty Leading the People. Delacroix, instead of painting an actual scene of warfare, chose to balance out the chaotic nature of battle by incorporating both realism and idealism into his painting. Zelazko explains that Delacroix did not participate in the uprising because of his dependence on royal commissions, but instead chose to take part by creating a work of art that overwhelmingly encompasses all aspects of that historic day. Posthumously, the painting was moved to the Louvre in Paris, France where the response was more favorable, and today critics regard his work as a masterpiece with a unique take on this historical event.