The 1700's was a time for revolution and creation. The once suppressed middle class was now able to buy, sell, and trade art. Alongside this new freedom, the American colonists were frustrated with the British monarchy and consequently engaged them in a war for their freedom. From this stemmed the American Revolution and alongside it, an unlikely connection between Revolution and Art.
King George III by Allan Ramsay
Studio of Allan Ramsay, British Empire
c. 1761
The first work of art that I chose is this portrait of King George III, the ruling monarch during the American Revolution (1765 - 1783). I decided to start my gallery with this portrait in order to set the tone with how the different social classes saw themselves. This portrait depicts King George in his cushy coronation robes, with a stoic expression, leaning against something in a nonchalant manner and with a background that suggests a comfortable and safe setting. The art elements serve to further push that narrative. There is a soft texture to the portrait, accompanied by mute colors and curvy lines.
This piece is important in demonstrating the difference in socioeconomic classes and helps one understand how the colonists viewed British monarchy. The colonists saw a king living a plushy lifestyle while they were being unnecessarily taxed to help the King pay for a war that they had nothing to do with.
Philadelphia
c. 1792
The second work of art is this portrait of George Washington by John Trumbull. I chose this portrait because it is a perfect example of how the American colonists viewed their leader and serves as a perfect contrast to the portrait of King George. Washington is portrayed standing tall and confident amid an ongoing battlefield. The color choice, like the King George portrait, is mute but while that art element in the portrait of King George makes the subject's surroundings appear safe and comfortable, it makes the portrait of Washington look serious and almost ominous. The people knew that this is a leader who was out in the battlefield fighting alongside them, not across the ocean in a lavish castle.
This piece shows the perfect contrast to how the colonists viewed their two leaders, and with the increased popularity of buying, selling, and trading art, it's easy to see how these two images were cemented into the colonist mind.
Paris
c. 1784
I end this gallery with the Oath of Horatii, which encapsulates the Roman legend. The legend goes that in order to settle a dispute from the two warring cities of Rome and Alba Longa, three men from each city is chosen in order to fight on the behalf of their city. The victor of the fight will be the victorious city. Even across the ocean, art was being used at this time in order to fan the flames of revolution. This piece of art urges patriotism and loyalty to the nation. Although this piece was painted four years before the French Revolution, it served to fill the common people with a love for their country. This then went on help spark revolution when the common people felt that the French monarchy was no longer helping their beloved nation.
This painting is chocked full of strong lines that help portray unity amongst the people. Lines from the strong stance of the three sons and father intersect and bring the viewer's attention to the three swords in the father's grip. The women are made up of curves that invoke a sense of sadness, these three men are going to war for the entirety of their city. This sadness however is quickly dispelled by the overpowering hard lines of the men and the strong lines of the pillars in the background of the piece.
These three pieces serve to show just how art was used to fan revolution across the western world during the 1700's. The first two pieces served to depict how the American colonists viewed their British Monarchy and their in-home leaders. The third piece demonstrates how art was used to unify the people through a sense of pride and patriotism. Of the three, I would most want to own the Oath of Horatii for its portrayal of duty.
Works Cited
King George III. www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw02455/King-George-III.
Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/12823.
“Neo-Classicism and the French Revolution.” Oxford Art Online, www.oxfordartonline.com/page/Neo-classicism-and-the-French-Revolution.
“Oath of the Horatii.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_the_Horatii.
Thanks for your post. This is a really insightful look into the class blurring that occurred within the era of the classical art period of the 1700s. You are particularly right in saying it is a time for revolution and creation. That is that it is also described in my blog the piece the "Oath of Horatii" as a sense of duty. The iconic moment of both sadness and glory come into the fold. David brings up an emotion so viscerally real that we are unable to comprehend it. You show us also Trumbull and Ramsay who do portraits that are so amazingly realistic and yet comical. From the 2021 perspective they truly are decorating the individuals up. I find it that through the three paintings you provided the message you get across is that revolution happens in parallel with art. They happen because of one leading to another. De-valuing others leads to unrest and evidently through the three a development of this revolutionary spirit. I would add that it would be interesting to look into other revolutionary movements and similar art characteristics as a comparison beyond the American Revolution. Such as the French Revolution...or others!
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