OATH OF HORATII: THE PLEDGE TO CIVIL DUTY

Jacques-Louis David: The Oath of the Horatii

The year is 1784, just five years before the French revolution; King Louis XVI of France wanted a painting that would invoke feelings of Loyalty to himself and the state with the hope to gain more public support. His Minister of Fine Arts, Charles –Claude Flahaut de Le Billaderie, decide to commission Jacques-Louis David for this project. David was a recent recipient of the coveted Prix de Rome, a prize given annually to one advanced art student.

David decided to make oil on canvas painting and in the process express a Roman Legend, told by Livy that took place in the year 669 BCE (7^th Century).

The Roman legend goes that, the City of Rome and the City of Alba were in conflict. The leaders of the two cities decided that instead of having a full scale war that they will each call three men from either side to fight on behalf of their cities and the men who win, will have won the war on behalf of the city. The City of Rome chose the Horatti brothers and the city of Alba chose the Curiatti Brothers.

David’s painting capture the defining moment when the Father of the Horatti Brothers, had summoned them and made them to pledge an oath that they will “conquer or die” for Rome. The painting grips the moment when the father lifting the three swords to be used by the brothers aloft. The father appears to be “filled with joy seeing he had sons so worthy of him.” The three brothers raise their arms courageously saluting their father, their standing posture evoking ideals of selflessness, determination, comradery, heroism and a reassuring position to mean business.

On the far right of the painting, are women and children who appear to be in distress the two women are Sabina and Camilla and a third woman covering the children. The women are in distress because, Camilla has been betrothed to one of the Curiatti brothers, and Sabina a sister to the Curiatti is married to one of the Horattii brothers. In in any event, regardless of the champion, they stand to lose someone they love; either a brother or a husband.

Despite this tight and close family ties through marriage the “Horatii’s father exhorts the sons to fight the Curiatii and they obey, despite the lamentation of the women.”

When the Horattii and Curiatii duel occurs, there is only one man left standing; a Horattii is the sole survivor. When he comes back home he finds Camilla cursing his beloved Rome for making her lose her Curiattii fiancé. The surviving Horattii is angered; he draws his sword and kills Camilla on the spot claiming that she was “putting her sentiments above her duty to Rome.”

When the Painting was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1785, it immediately became a hit. Everyone was transfixed by the painting. The painting was not only griping but revolutionary as it marked the start of the neoclassical style of painting away from the common Rococo style. The painting cemented David’s reputation as a preeminent painter of the era.  When the French Revolution broke, the painting became the face of the Revolution and the symbol of patriotism and self-sacrifice.

The painting is still in existence to date and if you want to see it you can visit Louvre Museum, Paris and you will have a glimpse of this great work of art.

The painting is still relevant to us today and should be on our forethought at all times. Not in the sense that we should be going to duels to solve our issues or murder anyone who holds an opinion that condemns patriotism or we should agree and accept all decision that have been passed. No one needs to die for his county but everyone must live for humanity.  In an age of intense nepotism, selfishness, and making money at all cost mentality, values such as valor, sacrifice, moral duty, selfless service, loyalty, civil duty are rare.

Horattii brothers placed the interest of their city before their lives; they placed their civil duty over personal interest. They took it as an honor to fight for their city. Today we may not have cities we are fighting against, but we are fighting mindsets of corruption, racism, nepotism, ideas of religion extremism, and mentalities of profits before people. Will you choose to fight all the way through the justice system or would you prefer to bribe the police? Will you choose deforestation  to spoil the environment or to pass a better environment to the future generation? Will you choose to give that employment or contract to your relative or the most suitable candidate or bidder?

Daily we face choices of civil duty over personal interest. Maybe if you have the painting of the Oath of Horattii before you and their noble examples of dedication and sacrifice beforehand; values of loyalty to your country, love to humanity, dreams of a better world will come popping in your mind and you shall make a better choice.

(Picture from wartburg.edu)