My Favorite Painting

The Oath of the Horatii by Jacques-Louis David

Wikipedia gives the story behind the painting:

In Roman mythology, the Horatii were a set of male triplets from Rome. During a war between Rome and Alba Longa during the reign of Tullus Hostilius (approx. 672-642 B.C.), it was agreed that settlement of the war would depend on the outcome of a battle between the Horatii and the Curiatii. The Curiatii were a set of male triplets who were from Alba Longa and of the same age as the Horatii.

In the battle, the three Curiatii were wounded, but two of the Horatii were killed. The last of the Horatii turned to flee. The Curiatii chased him, but because they were wounded became spread out from one another, which allowed the Horatius to slay them one by one.

When the victorious Horatius returned carrying the spoils of victory, his sister cried out in grief because she realized the Curiatius she had been engaged to was dead. The Horatius killed his sister, proclaiming, "So perish any Roman woman who mourns the enemy." For the murder, he was condemned to death but was saved when he appealed to the people.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.






Davids other works that I love include:



The Death of Socrates

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Napoleon

And of course:

La Mort de Marat