David

The Oath of the Horatii


5th Grade Lesson Plan

Jacques Louis David (Dah veed)

   - pronunciation

   - born August 30 1748, in Paris; died in 1825

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1. Chair:  Jacques-Louis David's father Louis Maurice David came from a family of merchants of decorations, furniture.  They were well to do and had high social standing.  His mother, Marie Genovieve had a more modest social position but there was some artistic talent in her family.  Her dad was an architect and her cousin was Boucher--1st Painter to the King.
2. Pencil:  David was constantly hiding behind someone of something during school, and just drawing.  Obviously he wasn't a very good student.  He knew he wanted to be a painter at a very young age.
3. Sword:  David's father was a hot head and quick to take offense.  He was killed in a duel in 1757.  David was only 9 years old.  His Mom moved to Normandy and left David behind with his two uncles.  They encouraged him in art.  David wanted to learn and study art under his Grandmother's famous cousin -- Boucher.  Boucher refused because he was too old and recommended Vein--a great history painter.
4. Volcano:  During the 1st years of David's life the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were discovered and excavated in Italy.  They had been covered by ashes from the volcano of Mt. Vacuous and perfectly preserved.  People would visit these ruins and this stimulated a new and fashionable interest in the life of art and ancient Rome and Greece.  They were classical subjects so the tern of this kind of art is Neo Classical (means new old).
5. Ballet Slipper:  David went to a ballet (Les Horaces).  This was about an old Roman legend.  According to the legend the Horatius brothers of Rome were to fight the Curati brothers of Alba.  The brothers were chosen by their City as the Best of the Best Champions.  Unfortunately one of the Horatii brothers was married to one of the Curatis sister and one of the Curati was engaged to a sister of the Horatii.  That is why we see the women crying in this painting.
6. Dress:  This painting changed the way people dressed in France and the way they decorated.  Everything began to turn back to the Classical Style.  (bring magazine to show contrast in today's decorating.  Are our homes decorated like Architectural Digest?  No.)
7. King:  The king of France was King Louis the XVI.  But this was the time of the French Revolution that David was very much a part of.  In fact he was known as the painter of the revolution.  Since many of his paintings were scenes from the revolution.  He was friendly with Robespierre who became France's new leader.  David was on the committee that sentenced king Louis XVI to death.  Along with 40,000 others- who were all sent to the guillotine.  This period of violence was called The Reign of Terror.
8. Prison:  many people thought Robespierre was carrying things too far, so they overthrew him and guillotined him.  David and his friends went to trial and wee charged with sentencing thousands to death.  David's reply was "I am guilty only of having loved liberty."  His life was spared but he was thrown into prison, for a few months.  The people got tired of the next government also since it failed to solve France's major problems.  An Army general decided to take matters into his own hands and overthrow this government, unified the country and attached Frances enemies.  His name was Napoleon Bonaparte.
9. Paintbrush:  once in power, Napoleon wanted glory.  So he chose David to be "First Painter" for the next 15 years.  David painted Napoleon and his court. In all its pomp and splendor.  After 15 years Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo by British and German forces.  The victors restored French monarchy to the throne.  This is what David had fought against all his life.  It was a sad time for him, he was forced to leave his country, and moved to Belgium where he died nine years later at the age of 77.

Summary:  David admired the Horatii brothers for their courage, ancient Greece and Rome because they were republics w/leaders elected by the people not corrupt monarchs like France had.  Before this time, art held little interest for the common people--this painting was different, simple, everyone could understand it.


Three young men pledging their lives to the defense of their home, family and country.  This inspired the people of France and gave them courage to fight and helped the cause of the revolution.

      Treat was warhead candies and heart candy.  They had to choose between love

      and duty.