Zusammenfassung der Ressource
The Death of Marat
- CONTEXT
- Marat was personal friend
of David's - he was leader
of revolution and
responsible for the deaths
of many innocent people
due to casual signing of
death warrant
- 1793: Charlotte Corday
assassinates Marat. Gains entry
to his house by presenting a fake
list of traitors. Assassination
proved to be suicidal and futile
- David asked to paint
tribute to the leader -
day before had seen
Marat in his bath and
painted him as such
- CONTENT
- Marat lies sprawled in a bathtub, his
head lolling back in death. His right arm
falls over edge of bath (holding pen,
showing his work) and his left grips a
(false) letter from Charlotte Corday.
(Letter asks for help - appears as if he
has been tricked into letting her into his
house through his goodwill)
- He is propped up
against folds of white
cloth - reminiscent of
shrouds of Jesus, as is
small and delicate stab
wound in his side
- Next to bath is simple wooden box
on which he works - shows both his
commitment to revolution and
humble nature
- LIGHT
- Seems to emanate from
right hand of painting
(glowing background)
- Round glow seems as if spotlight: falls
on letter from Corday and Marat himself,
creating 3D effect
- Dark background seems ominous and thick in
comparison: suggests heavenly presence
- David uses chiaroscuro to create
drama. Alludes to Caravaggio's work
which mainly focused on religious
subjects
- PERSPECTIVE/SPACE/
COMPOSITION
- Shallow space - figure close to
picture plane, viewer feels like
witness to his murder
- TECHNIQUES AND STYLE
- Oil paint, highly realistic
depiction of human form
- Would have used glazing
technique, layering thin layers of
oil paint to create 3D effect
- INTERPRETATION
- Through religious allusions
and motifs David gives Marat
a sense of superior, even
religious statue - depicts a
saviour who is matyred for
revolution
- Compares Marat to Christ, sacrificing his life
for the good of the people. In doing so
presents revolution as 'new religion'
- Shows him as "hero
of the revolution",
working until his very
death and murdered
through his attempts to
help the people
- COLOUR
- Colours are dark
and earthy, made
up of browns and
purples
- Sets sombre mood
- Painting seems
atmospheric and
gloomy, giving a sense
of wrongdoing and injury
- White of cloth seems to glow in contrast
- Draws eye towards material
- Seems to symbolise
purity and morality, a
(false) reflection of Marat's
character and a link to the
purity of Jesus