Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps, 1801, Oil on canvas
Jacques-Louis David was a French neoclassical painter. He painted Napoleon crossing the Alps in 1801 with oil on canvas. The first thing that draws my attention is the large yellowish cloak that Napoleon is wrapped in. The color is very vivid, and the way the cloak is painted looks like a thick, warm piece of fabric that keeps Napoleon warm as he crosses the snow-covered Alps. My eye then moves down to the horse, as it is painted as a bright Arabian stallion. The white of the horse with a few brown patches really stands out as the colors are more vibrant than the background. The horse’s mane and tail are beautifully painted to look like real hair, and the texture is just amazing. Napoleon is featured in the center of the painting, which creates a nice balance. The background is still full of other things to see and discover, but you can tell the focus is on Napoleon. Nothing seems like it does not belong in the painting; it is very unified in all the small details. The soldiers in the background, the names in the bottom left corner, the small piece of the French flag that peeks in on the right, and the small patches of blue that you can see through the clouds. All these small details make my eye move across the entire canvas in a fluid motion.
Napoleon thought of himself as a very important person. At 35 years old, he placed the crown on his own head and proclaimed himself emperor in 1804, 3 years after this painting was created. The way Napoleon is depicted in this painting is a very good example of propaganda. He sees himself as a savior and brave leader, and so he wants everyone else to see him that way too. The position of the horse and the way he is seated on top of it show power, grace, and authority. He is pointing upward, like he is leading his army to victory. Napoleon used these paintings to show people how important he was. This is how he wanted to be remembered and thought of as a conqueror and powerful emperor. He made sure to display the image he wanted people to see and nothing else. He wanted other countries to fear him so they would never think about going to war against him.
Part 2:
Jan Vermeer, The Milkmaid, 1658 Frans Schwartz, Agony in the Garden 1898
Part 2:
Jan Vermeer, The Milkmaid, 1658 Frans Schwartz, Agony in the Garden 1898
I was born and raised in the Netherlands, and so I am very familiar with Dutch artists like Jan Vermeer. I have visited the Rijksmuseum and have seen beautiful paintings of famous Dutch painters, including Jan Vermeer. I love the simplicity of the Milkmaid painting. The small, very plain room and the few items in the background, and then the milkmaid pouring milk into a bowl. Vermeer painted simple portraits that showed fidelity, honesty, and hard work. He painted this painting during the Baroque period. He wanted to portray Dutch life in its simplest form. He only painted 35 paintings in his lifetime, but he made sure they all were of things he believed in and stood for. The Milkmaid painting to me implies calmness. It is very visually pleasing with soft, warm tones and warm lighting. The painting is very nicely balanced, as the milkmaid is in the center of the painting and thus grabs my attention first. My eye then moves down as I see that she is pouring milk very gently into a bowl. Her face is very serene and calm, which portrays very calming emotions. The simplicity of the painting highlights the simple life of the Dutch people in the 17th century. It almost makes you wish you could live a simpler life just by looking at this painting.
The painting I chose to add myself is by Frans Schwartz. He was a Danish painter who had painted murals, monumental ceilings and walls, and many portraits. His most famous painting is Agony in the Garden, which he painted in 1898. This painting evokes a lot of emotion in me every time I see it. Good propaganda can relay a message without words and just with visuals; this painting does that for me. It grabs my attention immediately as it is dark in nature with a bright center. The highlights in the angel’s hair and the glow above her head are very vibrant but calming at the same time. The agony on Christ’s face is portrayed beautifully and is very relatable. It is a look I have had a million times when I am not sure what to do or if I can even make it through my current predicament. Seeing that look on the one person who I know can withstand all gives me hope and strength. The symbolism is very powerful in the entire painting. The warm embrace from the angel, the powerful wings behind her that show you she could take off any minute and just carry Christ away from the pain that awaits him, the tender hand she places on His head, and the way he clasps his hands as if he is contemplating an unimaginable decision. I love the simple, subdued use of colors and the hints of light where the artist wants to draw your attention.
These 2 paintings are very different but also have a lot of similarities to mine. They both evoke powerful, calming emotions. The expressions on the face of the milkmaid and the angel are both beautifully subdued and simple. Although the colors are more vibrant in the Milkmaid painting, they are both painted with soft strokes to play on your emotional level. Both artists did a magnificent job in conveying their message without words. Art is such a powerful tool and can be used for so many purposes. Creating beautiful paintings like these is just one of them.
Citations:
The painting I chose to add myself is by Frans Schwartz. He was a Danish painter who had painted murals, monumental ceilings and walls, and many portraits. His most famous painting is Agony in the Garden, which he painted in 1898. This painting evokes a lot of emotion in me every time I see it. Good propaganda can relay a message without words and just with visuals; this painting does that for me. It grabs my attention immediately as it is dark in nature with a bright center. The highlights in the angel’s hair and the glow above her head are very vibrant but calming at the same time. The agony on Christ’s face is portrayed beautifully and is very relatable. It is a look I have had a million times when I am not sure what to do or if I can even make it through my current predicament. Seeing that look on the one person who I know can withstand all gives me hope and strength. The symbolism is very powerful in the entire painting. The warm embrace from the angel, the powerful wings behind her that show you she could take off any minute and just carry Christ away from the pain that awaits him, the tender hand she places on His head, and the way he clasps his hands as if he is contemplating an unimaginable decision. I love the simple, subdued use of colors and the hints of light where the artist wants to draw your attention.
These 2 paintings are very different but also have a lot of similarities to mine. They both evoke powerful, calming emotions. The expressions on the face of the milkmaid and the angel are both beautifully subdued and simple. Although the colors are more vibrant in the Milkmaid painting, they are both painted with soft strokes to play on your emotional level. Both artists did a magnificent job in conveying their message without words. Art is such a powerful tool and can be used for so many purposes. Creating beautiful paintings like these is just one of them.
Citations:
Artnet. (n.d.). Frans Schwartz. Artnet. http://www.artnet.com/artists/frans-schwartz/
BYU Museum of Art Store. (n.d.). Frans Schwartz. https://moastore.byu.edu/artists/frans-schwartz/
Pollitt, B. (n.d.). David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/monarchy-enlightenment/neo-classicism/a/da
vid-napoleon-crossing-the-alps
Rijksmuseum. (n.d.). The Milkmaid – Johannes Vermeer. Rijksmuseum. https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-2344
[Paper written for ART 1010 class UVU Spring 2021]
aB . All Right Reserved . 2025
Rijksmuseum. (n.d.). The Milkmaid – Johannes Vermeer. Rijksmuseum. https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-2344
[Paper written for ART 1010 class UVU Spring 2021]
aB . All Right Reserved . 2025
