Classical Blog

 

Classical Blog 

Revolution and Art-1700s

Hannah Brooks

First Artist 

John Singleton Copley: John Singleton Copley was a renowned artist in the 1700s. The paintings he created were very prevalent during many of the revolutions that occurred during the 1700s. His work was very important in the ties between art and revolutions. He was born in Boston in 1738. While growing up in Boston, he trained in the visual arts under the guidance of his father. 

The work that I chose by John Singleton Copley was his painting of "Watson and the Shark."

Watson and the Shark John Singleton Copley 1778

       

     This painting shows the growing tensions during a period before the American Revolution began. This was painted in 1778 and depicted a young boy being attacked by a shark. the group of men on the boat appear to be trying to rescue him. This is supposed to represent the revolutions and the growing fight between oppression and the fight for freedom. This also shows a representation of the revolutionary figures during this time. They could be seen in this painting as the individuals on the boat. It would appear as though figuratively the shark represents the oppressive issues and the boy is their fight near death as others go against their beliefs of freedom. They would be the men on the boat fighting against the other two as they try to get freedom and revolutionize America. 

    This painting uses a lot of symbolism which enhances the message it is trying to convey. There is a sense of self-sacrifice and bravery that is depicted in this painting. Copley was a part of the movement to elevate American art to the standards of European art. This is a powerful piece and says so much in a very subtle way. On the surface, it appears the image is simply men on a boat and one falls off. They use the idea of dramatizing to cause a sense of chaos in your brain that transpires in the painting as well. This seems to embrace the ideas of liberty and democracy.

     I personally really like this painting as I love the hidden message behind it. Copley created something that seamlessly connects the revolutions that were going on in America and a beautiful art depiction of the times. The color palette that was chosen contrasts the warm tones with the blues of the water. This enhances the painting by creating contrast in the painting. There is also light and shadow created between the background and the figures with the water to create depth in the painting. There is a realism factor that is created by using real people with human characteristics. 

    This painting is displayed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. This is John Singleton Copleys most famous piece of art. I truly loved this depiction and the way he was able to effortlessly create such a beautiful piece of art with such a strong sense of symbolism with a powerful message. 

Second Artist: John Trumbull 

John Trumbull is a very prominent artist for his revolutionary paintings. He has a history of depicting the famous battles during the Revolutionary period through his artwork. 

Work of Art:

The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill by John Trumbull

This oil painting depicted the Battle of Bunker Hill. This was created in 1786 in London. It is part of a larger series he created and can be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This painting depicts a major moment in the American Revolutionary War that was fought on June 17, 1775. This was between the Americans and the British in the American fight for independence. This represents and highlights the major struggle and losses that occurred for America to gain independence. This reminds the people that a major figure died during this battle and highlights the significance of his death. Even though he is seen dead, they are still fighting. This shows a sense of chaos and reminds people of what war is really like.  

He used oil painting for this which accounts for the rich color that is shown in this painting. The way he painted it creates depth and drama that highlights the emotion of the scene. There is a light highlighting the main figure as he lies down defeated in his final battle. Realism is highlighted in this painting which reminds people these were real people. This also causes people to have stronger emotional responses. This emotion-filled response creates a stronger leap for people to care about the message he is spreading. I personally like the painting techniques he used for this. I wouldn't necessarily like the idea of hanging up a battle around my house, however for the purpose he created this, I think it is beautiful and well done. 

Third Artist: Jacques Louis-David. He is a very famous artist of the neoclassical art period. He was a French painter during the classical period. 

Work of Art : The Death of Marat by Jacques Louis-David 

"The Death of Marat" was painted by Jacques-Louis David. This painting portrays the assassination of Jean-Paul Marat. He was a prominent revolutionary figure. Marat is depicted lifeless in a bathtub and seems to have a writing utensil in his hand and paper in his hand. Even in his death, he is to be seen spreading a powerful message. This is a very dramatic depiction that evokes a very emotive response. This is dramatic and dark in the composition of the painting. Marat is portrayed as a martyr in this and elevates the idea of justice and equality that America was fighting for. He is the symbol in this painting. He stands for the struggle and justice that the revolution is fighting for. This also shows that Marat was a significant loss for their movement. This also served as inspiration for the cause to continue. 

The art elements in this piece are beautifully done and highlight and support the art. The arrangement directs your eyes to Marat's body immediately. The lines in his posture create a dramatic appeal and immediately bring your eyes to his body. Highlighting Marat's body makes sure the viewer is focused on the subject at hand. The supporting elements of the pen and paper also highlight and remind the cause of Marat's death. The color David uses with muted tones creates an element of sadness. There is Chiaroscuro which is light and shadow that is created around Marats dead body. There is texture as well with the rough bath and contrasting that with Marat's skin being smooth. This painting is a huge reminder of the immense loss that was felt by Marat's death. I think this though it was a sad story for a painting, it was created in a way that artistically was done very well. 

The death of general Warren at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill, 17 June, 1775 – Works – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. (n.d.). https://collections.mfa.org/objects/34260/the-death-of-general-warren-at-the-battle-of-bunkers-hill?ctx=8d90315c-5370-4266-9cda-40c483ab6153&idx=0 

Watson and the shark. John Singleton Copley, Watson and the Shark, 1778. (n.d.). https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/copley-watson-and-the-shark.html 

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024a, July 13). The death of Marat. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_Marat 

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, October 19). John Trumbull. Wikipedia. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Trumbull