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Jacques-Louis David was a good friend of the French revolutionary radical, Marat. He painted what is considered one of his greatest pictures to commemorate his friend’s passing and present him to the French people as a martyr for the cause. His depiction has been compared to “directness and simple clarity” found in Zurbaran’s depiction of St. Francis, and some critics feel the composition is evidence of a “close study” of Michealangelo’s Pieta.
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Gorjus seemed disappointed when I told him I was making this piece as part of a series to go along with the Lamentation over the dead photo. I’m not quite ready for the artist statement yet, but I would like to give some insight as to where I hope to go with this series. In reference to David’s Death of Marat:
. . .the painting was meant to function as an “altarpiece” for the new civic “religion”; it was designed to inspire viewers with the saintly dedication of their slain leader.
I have also felt some inspiration from some of Vendela’s work, and to that end, I have purchased some books on depictions of martyred saints.
For those of you who love the art history details: Marat spent much of his time soaking in a bath because it provided him with relief from a rash which covered most of his body, the turban on his head was a cold compress which he used to ward off almost constant headaches, he was stabbed by Charlotte Corday (who wrote the letter in his hand to gain entry to see him), and he is said to have built had his own gallows where over 200 people were executed (this is the part that makes him a radical revolutionary).
Quotes are from Art through the Ages, by Rcihard G. Tansey and Fred S. Kleiner.
Man, these are awesome. Why was Gorjus disappointed?
I’m probably reading too much in to his e-mail now that I think about it, but I got the feeling he would have wanted the series to be all Jesus . . .
these are great. i think your Marat image is not bloody enough.
I love it..i think you have something serious really going on here. Have you looked up other poeple who m ight have done this? What is your process? I gotta know..i have phone ability now so call me!
reb
The drappery is outstanding…down to the folds. Fan-damn-tastic. I wish that you could have positioned yourself more like the painting to replicate the shadows, but overall I would say this one is a success. You are bad ass. But for the most part you nailed it.
I’m not disappointed! I’m impressed–this is the first time I’ve gotten to see this, and it’s fantastic. If I am disappointed, it’s only because we don’t have a multiple-figure arrangement, which is one of the reasons the first image was so striking.
i’m very impressed this is a great progression and a great job on its own.
yeah, more blood. your image is green. and so, it doesnt seem tragic to me. I respond to the marat’s dis abilities and not to his murder. some blood or more red can probably introduced lifelessness and even dread to the scene.
Now that dig mentions it, that is a fairly green picture. I’ve noticed that I have a hard time getting enough reds into my own pictures. It might just be the environment that I live in but my photos are overwhelmingly shades of yellow and green.