Classical Blog

Marie Antoinette and Her Children by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun

Marie Antoinette and Her Children was painted by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun in Paris 1787. The painting shows elements of color, lighting, and balance. The color palette used is soft, muted colors to create a sense of elegance and serenity. Red is used in Marie Antionette's gown with sable lining to show she is of wealth. The pastel colors used in the carpet, shows this was painted in central France where workshops produced these carpets for nobilities. The Rococo technique was used in the floral carpet as well, depicting that it is French. The lighting in the painting was carefully placed as it highlights the faces and expressions of Marie and her children, emphasizing their emotional connection to each other. The balance in the composition is a triangular arrangement of the figures. Marie Antoinette is in the center which gives inspiration of traditional paintings or images of the Holy Family, signifying the Queen's maternal role. The emotions in the painting inspire awe by showing vulnerability and affection. Vulnerability is shown from the empty bassinet. It represents the loss of Marie's fourth child, giving an attempt to evoke sympathy. Affection is shown through the position of the children. The children are close, huddled around Marie, with a natural interaction with her, which suggests they have a strong bond and affection to one another.  

Marie Antoinette and Her Children represent examples of morality and art in the classical era. The painting shows a symbolism of the Holy Family, giving depictions of the Virgin Mary, implying Marie's role as a devoted and nurturing mother. Marie's simple dress and minimal jewelry in the painting furthers her focus on family rather than material wealth. This painting was to be created to improve Marie's public image. Many of the people in France had a negative perception of Marie Antionette and her ability to be a mother. They believed she had an excessive problem of spending money and had a lack of concern for the people. 

In 1785 Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun was summoned to Versailles to paint many elegant portraits of Marie Antionette as her relationship with the public was on a downward slide. Élisabeth was asked to paint something different to help restore Marie's image. Many people were unrested as this painting was made leading up to the French Revolution. Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun was one of the best portrait artists of her time. She went on to paint many portraits of royals in the 18th and 19th century but maintained a friendship with Marie Antionette until Marie's death in 1763 by the guillotine. This painting remains in the Palace of Versailles and is considered one of Versailles most best known works. 

I wouldn't own a copy of this painting because I believe the painting to portray something unrealistic. Queens have many duties to the throne and it was restricted for Queens to be hands on with their children, which is vitally important. Regardless, I do believe Marie had the best intentions and was a compassionate person but should not have used her children to persuade the public. I believe that she should have been more help to the public and had restored her image in a better way. 

 The Death of Marat by Jacque-Louis David

The Death of Marat was painted by Jacque-Louis David in Paris in 1793. The painting shows elements of lighting, composition, and color.  Lighting is used to draw attention to Marat's face or wounds, giving a sense of intensity and tragedy. The central focus is Marat's body, filling up most of the composition, to emphasize his isolation and to grasp the moment. The colors in the painting that are shown are red, white, green, yellow, orange, and brown. Red is seen in Marat's chest, a blood wound signifying his violent death. White is shown as the cloth draped around Marat's body, including his turban, highlighting his glorified image. Brown is used in the background to create a somber atmosphere. Jacque used the technique Neoclassical in this painting by minimalistic background, the position of Marat's body refers to  classical statues, and the detailing in his wound and folded clothing is an emphasis on precision and clarity. This painting by Jacque inspires awe through serenity, grief, and tragic heroism. Marat is elevated to a status of a hero, even though he had a violent death, it shows the sacrifices made during the French Revolution. Serenity is shown by the expression on Marat's face, despite the wounds, he appears to be calm and at peace, accepting his death. The dark background of the painting represents grief and creates a somber mood, reflecting the weight of the incident.  

The Death of Marat presents examples of morality and art by martyrdom, symbolism, and political context. Martyrdom is shown in the pose Marat's body is in, as he seems relaxed with his headed tilted back, depicts memories of Christ after crucifixion. Symbolism is shown through everyday objects in the painting like the knife on the floor symbolizes his triumph over death. The inkwell and quill symbolizes Marat's commitment to journalism and his revolutionary ideas. The letter in Marat's hands, is from Charlotte Corday, who was Marat's murderer, symbolizes the treachery of his enemies and how she lured him to his death. Jacque portrayed Marat as a revolutionary icon and included how committed Marat was to the cause. 

Jacque was a leading artist during the Neoclassical movement. Jacque was a close friend of Jean-Paul Marat and had painted this picture of Marat just days after his death, so that he would be remembered as someone who had sacrificed his life for the cause and was a hero. Jean-Paul Marat was one of the leaders of the Jacobins. During the Reign of Terror, Jean-Paul Marat published newspapers that talked about the rights of lower classes and violent acts that were done on traitors. Jean-Paul Marat had a skin condition that required he spend a lot of his time in the bathtub. Charlotte Corday was a leader for the Girondins but had offered to protect Marat. Instead of protecting him, she was allowed access to his room and had executed him in his bathtub but did not flee. She was then tried and executed for the assassination of Marat. 

I wouldn't own a copy of this work. Although I believe it symbolizes great sacrifices made during the French Revolution, it is very dark and sad. Looking at this painting, it gives me emotions of grief, knowing so many innocent people had to die during this time of war. I believe Jean-Paul Marat was a hero, he cared greatly for his ideas, and wanted to share them with the public to better help the revolution. 

The Embarkation for Cythera by Jean-Antoine Watteau

 The Embarkation for Cythera by Jean-Antoine Watteau was painted in Paris 1717.  The painting shows elements of light and shadow, color, and figure composition. Light and shadow is shown using soft light and scattered shadowing creates a hazy atmospheric quality in the scene. Where as the color palette uses soft pastel colors such as pinks, blues, and greens which creates a dreamy and romantic atmosphere. The figure composition is shown through the clothing or look of the figures in the painting. They are depicted to be rich, with fashionable attire, graceful poses, and subtle gestures that creates a flirtatious and romantic interest.  Jean-Antoine incorporated the Rococo style in this piece using light, elegant, and artistic qualities. The awe in this painting is shown through emotions of joy, love, and pleasure. This painting was created after the death of Louis XIV which gave people joy and Jean-Antoine wanted to capture people enjoying this carefree time. Jean-Antione included cupids, statue of Venus. and multiple couples together to create a scene of love. The cupids flying around are pushing the people to be closer together. The statue of Venus, who is the goddess of love is present in the painting. The three pair lovers in the foreground, each representing a different stage of love.  All of these show that the journey of love is being celebrated in this composition. Pleasure is also presented in this painting as it is not suppose to be seen as a real narrative. The island of Cythera is thought to be of the birthplace to Venus in greek mythology. 

The Embarkation for Cythera by Jean-Antoine Watteau presents examples of morality and art through the idealized portrayal of love and courtship. Idealized love is shown a romanticized view with elegant couples in a rich setting, suggesting a more morally acceptable form of romantic engagement. Social propriety is also shown that despite the gestures, the figures maintain an aristocrat manner, signifying there is an importance to social decorum even in the pursuit of love. The island of Cythera signifying powerful and alluring nature of love.  

Jean-Antoine Watteau was one of the most influential painters in the 18th century. He was known for a painting type he invented called Fête Galante. Fête Galante is pictures that explore the psychology of love in landscape settings. In 1714, Watteau was excepted as a member of the Royal Academy and was expected to submit a painting as a reception piece. Watteau was given freedom to choose a subject in which the Academy created a new category called Fête Galante. Watteau delayed his submission, spending more time on other commissions but in January 1717 he was asked to finish the task. Therefore Watteau submitted this painting in August 1717. 

I would own a copy of this composition because it provides emotions and a scene of natural love. The color palette that is used is so light and brings me joy when I look upon it. After such a horrible reign of Louis XIV, I'm happy people then felt at peace and could celebrate love in many different ways. I always have loved the greek mythology story of Venus the goddess and how Jean-Antoine incorporated that into this painting. The journey of love is never easy, it takes sacrifices and risks but the feeling of loving someone else or to be loved makes it all worth it in the end. 

Works Cited 

"Stauble, Katherine. “Marie Antoinette and Her Children: An Icon of French Painting | National Gallery of Canada.” Marie Antoinette and Her Children: An Icon of French Painting, 19 Apr. 2016, https://www.gallery.ca/magazine/in-the-spotlight/marie-antoinette-and-her-children-an-icon-of-french-painting. Accessed 19 Oct. 2024."

"“Marie Antoinette and Her Children.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Oct. 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette_and_Her_Children."

"Zelazko, Alicja. "The Death of Marat". Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Aug. 2024,                                   https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Death-of-Marat . Accessed 21 Oct. 2024."

"“Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.” Exhibition " The Death of Marat " – Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, https://fine-arts-museum.be/en/exhibitions/the-death-of-marat#:~:text=Since%201893%2C%20the%20Royal%20Museums,of%20Marat%22%20(1793).  Accessed 21 Oct. 2024."

"The National Gallery, London. “Jean-Antoine Watteau.” Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684 - 1721) | National Gallery, London, https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/jean-antoine-watteau#:~:text=Watteau%20was%20one%20of%20the,usually%20in%20a%20landscape%20setting.%20Accessed%2021%20Oct.%202024.. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024."

"“The Embarkation for Cythera (1717) by Jean-Antoine Watteau.” Artchive, https://www.artchive.com/artwork/the-embarkation-for-cythera-jean-antoine-watteau-1717/. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024." 

"“The Embarkation for Cythera.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Aug. 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Embarkation_for_Cythera. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024."