images from the french revolution and napoleonic era

Images from

The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

Art has always been a useful tool for political purposes

• Classical art glorified leaders

• Medieval art promoted church objectives

• The art of the Renaissance served the interests of a rising merchant class

By the time of the French Revolution, painters and pamphleteers - using new technologies and riding on the vibrant culture of the Enlightenment - had the visibility to be an important influence in shaping public opinion.

What follows are some of their works that

• Promote the ideals of the Revolution

• Commemorate events of the time

• Comment on the excesses of the Reign of Terror

and

• Celebrate (and reinforce) the heroic image of Napoleon

The Death of Socrates – Jacques-Louis David

King Louis XVI

The Three Estates

The Three Estates (female version)

The Estates meet

And, meanwhile, what do they find?

The Estates move

David sees it more heroically

The Three Estates - power shift

The New Motto…..

Revolutionary Philosophy

The Death of Marat – Jacques Louis David

The Runaways – Caught!

Louis goes to the scaffold

Now Improved…..

Robespierre now has control

But it’s a bit out of control

English Cartoons suggest it is

But help is on the way

The Whiff of Grapeshot

This crown…..

I’ll put it on….

Me.

Some are not so sure about this guy…

His commitment to the revolution….

Europe in 1792

Europe in 1811

The Battle of Trafalgar

The Battle of Trafalgar

The Battle of Trafalgar

The Battle of Trafalgar

Overextension

Defeat