Running Head: REVOLUTION
Inciting Revolution
University of the People
Art History
May 12, 2021
, REVOLUTION 2
Inciting Revolution
In a world where citizens of developed countries have a veritable cornucopia of information
available at their fingertips, one would never believe that original propaganda actually began in
Revolutionary France. Neoclassicism was a style of artistic expression which took Baroque
ideals and shed a distinctive light on them- especially those of science, anatomy, and
mathematics. While the Enlightenment was sweeping Europe, France was facing its own
revolution, one which bled into the artistic expression of the late 1700s.
Neoclassical Era
The fascinating thing about this kind of propaganda in France is that it was able to reach an
entire demographic of individuals who were either illiterate or ignorant through only the use of
visual stimuli. While the audience may not have been the people in positions of financial or
political power, it did encourage those newly wealthy, middle-class individuals who were
responsible for much of the commerce in France. One such painting, for example, which relied
on Neoclassical traits, was of Suzanne Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau, by Jacques-Louis David in
1804. This painting, in and of itself, was not significant, however the historical context
demonstrated an early nihilistic tendency toward fact over anything else. The subject of the
portrait happens to represent the “sacrifices many French families made for the creation of the
Republic”, as her father was executed for voting for the previous king’s execution (Ward, 2010).
She became, in short, a daughter of the revolution. This was important for David, as he too had
voted for the King’s execution, though was pardoned and voluntarily exiled for the remainder of
his career (Ward, 2010). In this portrait, her face reflects a stoicism common to ancient Greek
and Roman statues, as well as personifying the role of women in a time of war and politics.
Inciting Revolution
University of the People
Art History
May 12, 2021
, REVOLUTION 2
Inciting Revolution
In a world where citizens of developed countries have a veritable cornucopia of information
available at their fingertips, one would never believe that original propaganda actually began in
Revolutionary France. Neoclassicism was a style of artistic expression which took Baroque
ideals and shed a distinctive light on them- especially those of science, anatomy, and
mathematics. While the Enlightenment was sweeping Europe, France was facing its own
revolution, one which bled into the artistic expression of the late 1700s.
Neoclassical Era
The fascinating thing about this kind of propaganda in France is that it was able to reach an
entire demographic of individuals who were either illiterate or ignorant through only the use of
visual stimuli. While the audience may not have been the people in positions of financial or
political power, it did encourage those newly wealthy, middle-class individuals who were
responsible for much of the commerce in France. One such painting, for example, which relied
on Neoclassical traits, was of Suzanne Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau, by Jacques-Louis David in
1804. This painting, in and of itself, was not significant, however the historical context
demonstrated an early nihilistic tendency toward fact over anything else. The subject of the
portrait happens to represent the “sacrifices many French families made for the creation of the
Republic”, as her father was executed for voting for the previous king’s execution (Ward, 2010).
She became, in short, a daughter of the revolution. This was important for David, as he too had
voted for the King’s execution, though was pardoned and voluntarily exiled for the remainder of
his career (Ward, 2010). In this portrait, her face reflects a stoicism common to ancient Greek
and Roman statues, as well as personifying the role of women in a time of war and politics.
