French midterm

Portrait of King Louis XVI

Antoine-Francis Callet

1779

was legally copied by artists

• replica’s

first point of reference for what the king looked like as most people wouldn’t have seen him in person 

dressed in the highest end-most formal clothing 

velvet, expensive and valued

lace produced in enlgand

ermine - used for sovereigns across europe

fluer de lis 

• French symbolism

hand of justice

• represents justice upheld by the monarch

Queen Marie-Antoinette and her Children

Vigee-Lebrun

1787

• became a common patron of Lebrun

• focus on the maternal body of the queen, and what this symbolizes in relation to the continuation of the monarchy

• lost females child represented in the crib - child lost during the creation of the artwork

• at chateau de versailles

  • where the monarchs resided- away from poverty and struggle

• shows sable - a fur from Russia

Portrait of Calonne

Vigee-Lebrun

1784

portrait of the patron - a person of rank

similar lighting to callet’s work

pin shows rank of individual

noble rank and employment of the crown granted permission to be depicted in such finery

controller general

• was the head of finance, granted position in 83

is writing a letter to the kind, about national debt, prob accumulated from the last war (anglo-french)

Peace Bringing Back Abundance

Vigee-Lebrun

1780

• before the salon was redfined- meaning she coudln’t show her work there 

• was charged for selling art out of her home 

• joined a smaller guild

  • the academy of saint luke

• allegorical/mythological subject 

The oath of the Horatii

Jaques Louis David

1784

• depicts a scene from roman history 

• commissioned by king l

• brothers sworn in oath to defend Rome 

• commissioned to promote support from the French state/monarchy 

• David made the painting really big

• history painting was the highest form of painting

• trained at the royal academy

• academic artist

• neoclassicism

Storming of Bastille

Charles Thevenin

1789

• prompted Emigres

• scene of the acutal attack 

• intentional use of print making 

  • allows for y least 100-200 copies 

• example of artist using contemporary politics as substance for art, using traditional mediums 

• was an eye witness to the event 

Marie Antoinette on the way to the Guillotine

Jaques Louis David

1994/93

a sketch, capturing a spontaneous, fleeting moment.

royal / regal representation vs the stripping of all that.

important info

• guillotine

• regicide

Self - Portrait

Vigee - Lebrun

1790

• self portraits were to display talent, and show nobility their skills. Entice them to commission

Gallery of Kings

1793 - shorter after the death of k.louis

Notre Dame / Temple of Reason

iconoclasm- attack on religious architecture

religious spaces were being secularized, and was renamed temple of reason .

• heads were buried and found pretty recently

View of The Louvre in 1793

known as the museum of the republic during the convention

became publicly accessible during this time

As france expanded, they took art - Artists and scientists were sent w/ the military with lists of what they wanted to take. the collection of the Louvre expands enormously during this period

example - Ghent altarpiece

taking works like this was a political mission, the Louvre becomes a trophy case full of their trophies of conquest.

“the works needed to be freed, and brought to France so that the people of liberty can see them in a proper space.

narrative of heroism and liberation

The Death of Marat

David

1793

Marat was assassinated by someone in an opposing political group

Jacobins vs girodin

symbolism in the painting of how he died and his life

• bath due to skin condition 

• someone came and stabbed him while in bath 

• cut on his body 

• blowd on the tub

• was in the middle of task etc…

became known as a secular martyr

Portrait of Citizen Belley

Girodet

1797

• is fitted in clothing fit for a deputy 

• the bust in the back is Raynal, a philopsher who had just died in 96 

• was an advocate for the abolition of slavery and was a critic of Christianity 

  • Belley is leaning on this bust, metaphorically leaning on these ideas. 

• in the background we see Haiti and the places set on fire in the back. 

• was elected during the convention (1792-95) but this work was made during the period of the directory (95-99)

• comes from Haiti, was was able to purchase his freedom 

  • joined the army to climb the social order 

• when slavery was abolished (1795), he was chosen and elected to the directory council

• artist fought for it to be shown under this name and not as portrait of a black man - was shown at the salon

Bonaparte crossing the Saint Brenard Pass

David

1801

equestrian portrait - symbolizes full control over a nation

this is a sort of reconfigured representational painting. the clothes, horse and situation are historically accurate in some way. The clothes are clothes from battle - not travel. The horse was a gift from the Spanish king. and he really did cross the Bernard pass but on a donkey not a horse, and in travel clothes.

• this exhibits the construction of a narrative

lead to replica’s being made

• perpetuating the narrative

painting puts more important detail in the central access, with an asymmetrical composition to show dynamism

shows off David’s skill to be able to paint such a successful horse portrait, anatomically correct and dynamically moving.

idealized representation of Napoleon

Portrait of a Black Woman / Portrait of Madeline 

Benoist

1800

artist engaging with contemporary issues affecting society

was originally shown titled as “portrait of a black woman”

• example: not given the same treatment as citizen Belley

there are no primary sources on this piece so we have to use our skills at analysis to figure it out - we can use it to determine the social political context of the time

• the woman was brought to mainland France, meaning she is technically a ‘freed’ slave. she was brought for Guadalupe

she was a domestic worker is brothers home, the work was retitled to situate the sitter with the work

this is technically a representation of s specific individual but at the time it stands more in place as a portrait of a category of people

think about agency, the colours, the partial shown breast, scars on hand, skills of artist etc.

Model

• the sitter for a painter

• what kind of agency do they have

• think about portrait of black woman painting

Reinstitution of Slavery

1802

under Napoleon (1799-1804)

Agency

relating to the kind of a say a commissioner or model might have in how the subject is portrayed in a painting or work of art

Motif

Repetition over time - a reoccurring element

equestrian portrait

painting with a horse - more specifically it a horse with a sitter

symbolizes full control

Replica

artists making copies

example: Bonaparte crossing the Bernard pass

contributes to the perpetuation of a narrative

Sèvres

Objects / luxery objects

example": the Vase ‘arrival of the Italian artworks in Paris

• depicts narrative scenes and how they connect with the treaty of tolentino negoitiated during the period of the directory (1796)

Napoleon Bonaparte

First Consul (1799-1804)

• Egyptian Campaign

• Bloodless Coup

Egyptian Campaign

1798-99

ended the same year as the directory

Notable role as general for Napoleon

• when he returns he has a lot of military support, and many discussions with folks voer their contentions of the current government and theirs a coup

• resulting with the creation of The Consulate, and the first Consul (Napoleon)

Emigres

Vigee-LeBrun is one

refers to people who fled France around the time of the Storming of Bastille (89). they become self-imposed emigres. The French government revoked all citizenship and property from the emigres.

Vigee-Lebrun 

Painter

an emigre 

• she fled with her daughter, leaving a husband behind. Painted her self portraits as a way of displaying her talent, She became very notable and worked as a professional artist. She divorced her her husband so they could keep their property, and eventually she came back to France and got their citizenship back. She became a member of several academies throughout Europe.

self portrait

a means for artists to show their skills to nobility.

monarchy would often commission these - this is how other nobles would often see them.

The Academy of Painting and Sculpture used to be…

the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture

• with the executions of the king and queen(1793), the royal academy becomes the ___.

guillotine 

Place de la Guillotine

• the execution of Antoinette and Louis, and all followingg theirs were killed by guillotine and this is where (1793)

• was renamed place de la concord 

a new method of execution, quicker and more certain. Would result in immediate death.

Regicide

the execution/murder of monarchs / royalty

example: the execution of Antoinette and Louis, in 1973 - a decision made by the national assembly

The Republic / The First Republic

national assembly becomes a new entity called the republic following the deaths of Antoinette and Louis

1792-1804

Constitutional Monarchy

takes place for roughly a year ; 1791-92

• the royal family tried to run away because they could feel their power slipping. king and queen were caught and executed.

contestation / contested document

something that gets voted on

Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female citizen

Olympe De Gouges

• 1791

  • in response to the 89

• written in response to the Declerations of the rights of man and the citizen

• an individual representing a larger voice

• she did have the backing of one of the groups in the National Assembly - did not get enough votes to pass

• both sexes can occupy land

• females should have the right to the national assembly

mainland france

all here are technically not slaves

you were considered liberated and not eslaved if brought here

slavery refers to their colonies - primarily in the Caribbean

National Assembly

the National Assembly evolved from the estates general (happens around the time of the constitution)

a place where different folks had different views and opinions

• the king had to work with and communicate through the National Assembly.

Salon

was redefined in 1791 (same time at the constitution)

• independent artists are now allowed to submit

• you no longer have to be a part of the royal academy to submit

• this is a big social change directly related to the art world

• government exhibition every two years

• salon hanging- floor to ceiling

• portrait of calonne and oath of the horatti both shown in 85

The Constitution / The First Constitution

The declaration of the rights of man and the citizen is absorbed into the constitution. 

• redefines the salon 

• the National Assembly developed 

• a political body is formed ^

• monarchy is losing power / split with the constitution

Decleration of the rights of man and the citizen

Is a landmark document

• drafted and presented to the king

• becomes the constitution

man

• 25+ and paying taxes

  • taxes have to be paid directly to the government

  • means you have to own property

this document creates a operations of those who have political rights

• written by third estate

• promotes freedom of property, security, resist oppression, voting of officials, and liberty 

Abolition of Slavery

1795

• think c.belley painting.

the convention

1792-95

• proletarian associations

from the first republic to the directory (first republic refers tp the period following the death of k.louis)

• first political party 

the directory

1795-99

• bourgousiseas associations

reign of terror

1792/3- 94

lots of violence takes place - exacerbated by food shortages

the committee of public safely was created to control this violence

execution of folks against republicanism

legislation on catholicism

1792

dissolution has happened in 1790

September massacres

• uprising of people against the legislations on catholicism

dissolution of religious orders

• happens during constitutional monarchy 

• 1790

The first republic

time period following the death of King Louis

convention to consulate 1792-1804

iconoclasm

• breaking of an image 

  • example of the gallery of kings

    • attack on religious architecture

didactic panel

informative sign/paper with details of the work

royal

office of the king/queen

monarch

refers to the persoa

absolute monarch

refers to the perception that the sovereign in appointed by god

sovereign

ultimate leader/rulae in government

house of bourbon

French royal family

• ex. hereditary rule

• positions and titles passed from parent to child

• primogeniture

rule of law

when law is the ultimate authority 

• no real rule of law in France during the Bourbon reign 

• monarch is the ultimate authority 

civil law

codified law based on written set

case law

law based on precedent set by other cases

Ancien Regim

Meaning old regime 

• monarchical power pre revolution 

• portraiture was a common way for monarch to represent themselves

patron

the eprson who pays for a work of art

• typically the one represented in the work of art, with some exception

  • portrait of calonne - vigee Lebrun

  • marie antoinette - vigee Lebrun

academic art

work made by academician s

usually worked in distinguished themes and mediums, oil paint and history paintings

use of perspective, came out of tradition from the renaissance

neoclassicism

renaissance= rebirth of greek and roman themes/production

echoes back to end of 18th century belief in a moral system on governance - culture to reinforce virtue and moral value

Chateau de Versailles

opulant royal palace, about a day ride form paris

this is where the king and queen resided - away from the poverty and struggle of France

conviction of the estates general

1789

• questioned whether there should be a shift to consititional monarchy

• gathered by the king on the advice of his advisors

• first estate - nobles

• second estate - clergy

• third estate - deputies

  • eventually becomes the national assembly. 

  • signals change in elctions and democracy 

  • negotiations between king and estates 

abolition of nobility 

1790

• a decree from the king

• anyone with an aristocratic title is removed - including the king

• no use of family crests, royal/noble titles etc

march on versailles

1789

• women’s march on versatile

• pressures the royal court to move to Paris

The Emperor Napoleon in His Study

David

1812

• painted during the time her was emperor but is reflecting on when he was consulate

  • NB was pleased and had copies made

• Symbols

  • fleur de lis

  • bees - symbol of royalty and empire

  • clock shows past midnight, pm because candle

  • uniform of the military guard

  • rolled documents in the back - COD - civil code of the French which was 1704 - during consulate time

  • the medals indicate the legion of honours

Portrait of Empress Josephine 

1810

Jaquotot

a Sevres 

• Wife of Napoleon 

  • did not birth him children and he eventually divorced her

    • notes on divorce and the changes in 1804 with the COD

The First Empire

1804-1814

• Napoleon

Legion of Honour

1802

New recognition system

• under the time of the consulate

• was designed for civil and military services

  • no longer hereditary/nobilitly based

1804 Divorce change

women no longer had any power

• could only file for divorce under very special circumstance 

  • abuse, or if husband was adulterous and brought the new women to live into the home

• women could no longer claim paternity

• legal protection of men

• general fear of female sexuality

• adultery was punishable

  • men were fined, women were jailed

• children were often abandoned

Civil Code of The French

1804 - during the consulate half

replaced fuedal/royal law

• every person is a subject to the law

  • includes the ruler

Legislation on divorce

1792

• NB set out to improve architecture (didn’t really succeed)- focused more on military success

• started building the arch de triumph 1806

• wanted to build a structure to be on route the procession for the great army

• triumphal arch - another roman feature

• down the Champs Élysées

  • connects to louvre, guilltine place

• presentation of political power

  • construction stopped in 1814 when he was expelled

• he contributed to the creation of cultural memory 

  • transcends NB’s losses

Arrival of the Italian artworks 

1796 

Beranger

• sevres

• narrative scenes and how they connect with the treaty of tolentino

  • a treaty struck with the pope

  • took manuscripts, art, sculptures, etc