Rousseau, the Individual, the State, and David’s The Oath of the Horati

Rousseau, the Individual, the State, and Davids The Oath of the HoratiiRousseaus deliberate on the relationship between the single(a) and thestate and Davids house painting The Oath of the Horatii argon two differentgenres with the same views, having French renewal as the connectingfactor. Davids painting is not done for art pastime but rather an artfor the commonwealth sake. His painting does not take only aestheticpurposes but includes with ulterior motives. David has a preconceive arbitrariness in his mind and has decided to give a pictorial mental representationof the preconceived notion and exploits all his techniques to ensurewhat is in his mind. It is because of Rousseaus dissemble of philosophythat David was able to use his medium of painting to achieve hispurpose. In The Oath of Horatii, Rousseaus impact on David isexpressed very puff up in the Davids neoclassical style which ischaracterized by clarity of line, rational and balanced composition,restrained facial expression, bold effects of light and a minimum ofdistracting detail. It is very apt for Davids purposes since thestyle enhances and highlights Davids purposes in conveying hispolitical messages.The Horatii were chosen as champions of ancient Rome (Audio-VisualNotes 2001) and the genuineness of being chosen as champions suggeststhe power of the state. According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a soulfulnessor institution has authority if they are able to command others to dothings. That authority is legitimate only if the person, orinstitution, possesses the right to command others. To be legitimate,the authority the state has over the people must come from the peoplethemselves, and not from a single entity such as the king. Power thatcomes from such sources is usually referred to as naked power. In sucha scenario, we cannot solely agree that the Horatii were comfortablewith the title as champions. They might be indulged to follow the statebecause they ought to, or because they are afr aid of the consequences.In contrast, they might be honoured to be chosen as champions of Romeand this title might act them into offering their lives onbehalf of the country.On the viewers left, a trine of the vertical space is dedicated tothree men, Horatii, who are sons to the man, Horatius. The lightsflood crossways the scene onto the viewers right side, illuminating themain characters and presenting th... ...rheads are facing down with eyes closed with their backs slouching.These choices of colours, postures and gestures suggest that Davidwants to create the sober ambience within the female figures and thecontradiction of their particular volition against the full everyday will of thestate. In Rousseaus view, particular will is concerned with anindividuals advantage. The ladies may be convinced by their threebrothers and their let to think that their particular will is theproduct of appetency while general will is the product of priming. Sincea person acting on his app etite is slavish and bad, while a personacting on reason is noble and good, they should therefore obey thegeneral will and allow their brothers to charge even to the extent ofhaving duels with their own family members.With the cross referencing between Rousseaus views and Davidspainting The Oath of the Horatii that has been presented, we canconclude that it is because of Rousseaus impact of philosophy thatDavid was able to use his medium of painting to achieve his purposeand this is observable through the pictorial representation in conveyingparticular will and the general will of The Oath of the Horatii.