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Question: About Jacques Louis David's "The Oath of the Horatti!."!?
I got a homework about this picture but I have no idea

the answer about these questions!. *crying* plz help me out!.!.!.

- What shape is the result of implied lines!?

- What is the APEX or focal point of this work!?

- IS this about politics in France!? (I think no!.)

- What two rulers of France were at war with each other during this time!?

I have no idea about focal point and implied lines!.
I tried to look for this picture's review but it was too hard to
understand to me, cuz im international(from India!.!.been here 3month only!.)

Please help me out, I would really REALLY grateful about that!. ;_;

Thank you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Shape: the painting is divided into three sections by the arches in the background!. You can see that the recesses of the arches coincide with the three groupings of people!. On the left there are the 3 brothers, in the middle is the father, and on the right are the mother and sisters!. You'll also notice that there is a contrast between the men and the women: the men are more rigid while the women are slumped!.
- Apex: because the painting is divided in three, the natural apex would be the father in the centre!. Attention is also drawn to him by use of diagonals (i!.e!. the arms of the brothers lead the viewer's eye towards the centre)!.
- Politics: I suspect it probably would be about French politics, since it was painted only a few short years before the Revolution, when there would have certainly been lots of tension!.
- Two rulers: I would guess King Louis XVI and Robespierre (one of the leaders of the Revolution)!. The painting refers to a 7th century war between two families, the Horatii and the Curatii!. But because the two families were connected by marriage, both sides would in a sense lose no matter what!. I think in an allegorical context, the Horatii and the Curatii represent the two feuding factions of France at the time, namely the royalists and the revolutionaries!. No matter which side won, there would be benefits and consequences either way!.Www@QuestionHome@Com