HISTORY OF ART: WAR: LIBERTY LEADING THE PEOPLE

date

1830

artist

eugene delacroix

the three glorious days

On 27, 28 and 29th July 1830, the French people took to the streets of Paris to rise up against King Charles X and were triumphant.

delacroix was living in Paris at the time

so would have witnessed these events

he stated in a letter to his brother on october 28th, 1830 that

‘although i may not have fought for my country, at least i shall have painted for her‘

Romanticism: detailed, individual expressions of emotion on each person’s face and loose painterly style.

heightens the excitement and drama of the painting

naturalism

creates a sense of authenticity

pyramidal composition with tricolour at the apex.

connotes strength and power and guides the viewers gaze towards the tricolour, placing it as the most significant object in the painting.

loose brushstrokes especially in the depiction of smoke and sky

enforces the sense of immediacy and the energy of the revolution.

dimensions

260 × 325 cm

different types of people involved presented with individual identities such as a member o the bourgeoisie, a child and a factory worker.

symbolises the nation as being made up of the people not the crown, representing many different classes involved.

allegorical figure of liberty still managed to be rooted in the moment through contemporary clothing and bare feet striding forward. wears the Phrygian cap, a roman symbol of freedom from enslavement popular during the revolution. Grecian profile.

sense of authenticity and rawness as well as awe.

buildings in the background such as the Notre Dame displays how events took place in Paris.

Topographical specificity gives authenticity.

atmospheric perspective.

creates a sense that it was a large scale revolution with many people involved.

critic text ‘the desire to paint a good picture…

‘the desire to paint a good picture…may compromise its veracity’ (Laura Brandon)

critic text ‘the artist used colour and brushwork…

‘the artist used colour and brushwork… to elicit an emotional response from the viewer’ (Dr Bryan Zygmont)