Neoclassical Influence On Art

The French Revolution of the late 18th Century certainly changed the way people look at art, but it also changed how people look at societies and politics. The art during this time praised the past, the Classical past—the era of the Republic of Rome and the demos of Athens. This was essential to express the ideals of the French Revolution to the masses; it was this connection that fueled these art forms. The piece of art I will look at of the Neoclassical style is The Death of Socrates as painted by Jacques-Louis David. It signifies the aftermath of the trial of the philosopher of ancient Athens Socrates. The trial of Socrates represented the harsh crack-down of the political changes that were taking place at the time; the philosophes were being attacked for their liberal ideals as being the cause of the decline in Athenian Imperial power. This event parallels closely with what was taking place at the time in France. The French masses were going through political changes at the time of the painting, in 1787. The King was still in power, but he was seeking help in trying to handle the debt of his nation. He called for advice by calling up the Three Estates, The Estates
In the painting Socrates is depicted as about to take poison, surrounded by all his pupils who looked up to him. With similarity, Louis XVI is about ready to feel the wrath of subjects. They are to accuse him of lavish spending, especially that of his wife Marie Antoinette. Louis and his wife would be guillotined in the coming years but the debt wasn’t exclusively brought about by the expenditures of the privileged. The Seven Years War and the American War of Independence cost the government dearly. Nevertheless, David portrays the coming years through his yearning for the democratic past of Classical times quite