History
John Trumbull is famous for many revolutionary art pieces depicting many battles and historical events. Jefferson invited John to stay with him in Paris to compose the painting. Jefferson wanted this piece to be historically accurate but also have everyone included, even though some who opposed the proposal were not physically present during that moment of history. Jefferson was the one who submitted the document to John Hancock, but in the painting, those included were John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin.
Elements
This painting is a historical moment of the revolutionary history of America. The overall tone depicts a very gloomy and dark setting. This moment of history was secret; only a select few witnessed this day until it was made known to the world. They did not have electricity yet; candlelight and sunlight were what they had. Not one's face is hidden in the painting, so they can all be named in the painting. All faces were severe and heroic; being there was an intense moment of history. They were shaping the building blocks of the new founding country. Anyone would be nervous, yet all faces were stern and ready to face the start of the new founding country. The color of the painting was dark, and everyone wore white powdered wigs because that was their culture. You can see many faces in this painting. It took John 3 decades to do because he wanted to include all 56 members. It must have taken a long time because he had to research many faces and interviews to see who was present or involved. Everyone in the painting was not even present, but Jefferson wanted everyone there despite the reality of having some disapproved or who could not be there.
History
This painting was made from a Roman legend where three men were chosen to fight against their enemies’ champions so that both parties could avoid a full-scale war. Those three men were brothers, and their father holding the three swords is swearing them into an oath to protect their nation. Women in the background are the wives or fiances of the three men. They are distraught and know what their husbands will be facing. They will face life and death and either win or lose, which would mean gruesome death. Element
This piece of painting is my favorite of the three I choose. The reason is because of the perfect shading and the color choices of the art piece. The parts where everything has what looks like highlights shining from one direction in the painting are perfectly shaded. The color of the skin is bold and lifelike. Furthermore, the shading and colors perfectly align where light and dark would be in real life. The painting is like someone who went back in time, took the picture with a camera, and made it look like a classical oil on canvas painting. The shadows of the painting are spot on, and the choice of color for the clothing seems very lifelike. The coloring of the silver or gold helmets looks shiny where you would expect it to be because of the position of the direction of the light. Everything is perfectly colored and shaded to make each character more prominent or less prominent, as the women and the children are in the shadow of the men. The artist boldly lined the men and the two women into the light while the woman with the children is shunned in the shadows of the men.
History
In this painting, Delacroix depicts women representing Liberty, leading soldiers to victory while holding the french white, blue and white flag. In July of 1789, a protest called the Storming of the Bastille sparked the French Revolution. This protest took place on the streets of Paris because you can see Notre Dame Cathedral in the background.
"Delacroix was living in Paris at the time, enabling him to experience the chaos firsthand. "Three days amid gunfire and bullets, as there was fighting all around," he wrote in 1830. "A simple stroller like myself ran the same risk of stopping a bullet as the impromptu heroes who advanced on the enemy with pieces of iron fixed to broom handles."-Tribe, Yugan
Because he experienced this firsthand, it gave him the emotions and right to paint this elegant piece of a woman leading the revolutionaries to victory. Women did not lead, but she was a symbol of Liberty.
Elements
This piece is not as vivid as the last piece of art by Jacques-Louis David, but the artist has a good coloration of how smoke can make a picture hazy. Liberty lady clothing has many lines that create the illusion of wrinkles and ripples in the fabric. The waist belt looks like it is flowing in the air from her running or the chaos. The lines on the flag of the voluntaries, which is now France today, make the illusion of it free-flowing in the wind. You can almost hear the flag snap and flap by the illusion of the lines of the flag, with Liberty holding a gun in her left and the flag in her right, the emotion of pride in one's right to fight to have freedom. This painting is a patriotic piece of art that Delacroix made out of his experience in Paris and how he saw the French Revolution from his point of view.
Citations
A Scholarly Skater. “American Artists and the American Revolution.” A Scholarly Skater, 30 Sept. 2021, https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/01/04/american-artists-and-the-american-revolution/.
Tribe, Yugen. “7 Spirited Works of Art Sparked by Revolution.” My Modern Met, 26 June 2020, https://mymodernmet.com/revolution-art/.
Unknown. “David, Oath of the Horatii (Article).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/later-europe-and-americas/enlightenment-revolution/a/david-oath-of-the-horatii.
Unknown. “The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.” The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, | Yale University Art Gallery, https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/69.
Unknown. “Neo-Classicism and the French Revolution.” Oxford Art Online, https://www.oxfordartonline.com/page/neo-classicism-and-the-french-revolution/neoclassicism-and-the-french-revolution.
Beautiful post, I appreciate the way you described your elements. I was a little unclear of the theme; though I believe it is Revolution and the Arts. The middle piece confused me, but it may just be misfiring in my brain. Haha. It would been more clear if there was a date for the middle painting.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your analysis about Trumbull's piece, the Declaration of Independence, and the symbolism you saw when breaking down the elements found in the painting. I personally saw different symbolism when viewing this piece; when the Declaration was being drafted, along with the Continental Congressional meetings, colony representatives found secrecy to be an extremely valuable tool. As they met in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), windows were shut, doors locked, and the debates of men kept to a dull roar - however, I do not believe the tone was dark to represent this. There was hope in the revolution, Trumbull could have had candlelight illuminate the room, the faces of these revolutionaries, and the very parchment they were signing - I mean this paper was supposed to detailed the freedom of ALL. Yet, he did not, and though the Founding Father did have hope in their fight, they knew this paper was going ignite war. This tone shows the final "calm before the storm," because once this is dispatched to King George, to might of the British Crown will be upon them. That is also why they are stern, their work as just begun and if they can not best the British military - then there is no reason to rejoice. This idea of America must survive war if freedom is to exist for the colonies.
Final note, I believe that Jefferson requested everyone to be included because in that room, democracy was on full display. That those 56 delegates were able to speak freely, that no monarch spoke over them and repressed their ideas; there was no bloodshed, no physical conflict amongst the men, just 56 voices coming together to decide the next step. Jefferson knew that democracy will have multiple idea pitted against each other, just like on that day, and he wanted the idea of peaceful compromise to be represented.