Both paintings were created during the Neoclassicism Period that began in the 1760’s and progressed in the 1780’s and 1790’s. Neoclassic art was a response to the decorative Rococo style art that dominated Europe in the 1720’s. Here we see two warriors displaying heroism. A revolutionary activist, writer and physicist named Jean-Paul Marat is depicted in the painting on the left. Marat was painted by his friend and artists Jacques-Louis David, after he was murdered and during his last breath. The painting on the right was created by artist Jean-Germain Drouais and depicts a wounded and fallen Roman warrior (nude athletic body) during times of Roman antiquity.
Both artists used a reverse method of dark above light in the background and foreground to invoke emotion concerning the tragic events depicted in the painting. Both paintings depict sacrifice and martyrdom as both men have been struck down and are dying their last moments of breath. David depicts Marat with his head covered in a white turban, hanging like an image of Christ and arm hanging over his medicine bath lifelessly as he breathes his last breath of life. On the right, the Roman soldier lies in pain from being wounded with its unnaturally twisted contour displaying agony. The Roman soldier grasps his wounded leg on the left side of his body in a display of resistance to his defeat; whereas, Marat has given in to death as a martyr.
Marat’s painting is in color (displaying a modern time period) and the Roman warrior is in black and white (displaying ancient time period). Although both men are depicted as heroic warriors, Marat’s weapon is his pen, and the Roman soldier a sword. Both men are selfless because they are fighting for the lives of others. Marat was a real activist during a revolution period that fought for social change and the Roman warrior has fallen defending his land and people against invaders. However, Marat’s painting is of a real contemporary man and the Roman warrior is a fictitious man representing the image of soldier during the Roman Era. Both works of art are beautifully constructed representations of heroism.
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