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How Did The Enlightenment Ideas Influence Art

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Enlightenment Ideas Influence Art Art takes on many different forms such as visual, decorative, performing, and interactive. Art is strongly influenced by the cultures and ideas surrounding it. Although strongly influenced, art has been a staple throughout history used to show appreciation, as a means to communicate, and as an expression of imagination. One of the most influential times of art was during the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries that focused on reasoning and individualism rather than traditional lines of authority. Philosophers helped promote Enlightenment ideas. Of the many philosophers, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau were the most influential for this painting. A Soldier on the Field of Battle by Horace Vernet relates to the Enlightenment because it is influenced by the three philosophe’s beliefs about individualism, freedom, and war. Under this influence, art helped promote Enlightenment ideas. In 1818, French painter Horace Vernet painted A Soldier on the Field of Battle on canvas using oil paint. The painting depicts a wounded soldier of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard after he had just buried his comrade after their defeat at the Battle of …show more content…

While Hobbes’ held a negative view of human nature, Locke had a different and more positive view. Locke’s most sought after belief was that every human being had a right to life, liberty, and property, also known as natural rights. John said that if the government did not do its job to protect those rights, the people had the right to overthrow the unjust government and achieve freedom and equality. The soldier depicted in this piece of art, is shown after fighting for freedom in the war. Although Napoleon’s team had lost, they still fought the best they could and in the end fought for their rights and

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