The Oath of the Horatii is one of the masterpieces of Neoclassicism and an iconic work by Jacques-Louis David. The painting depicts an episode from Roman history, recounted by Livy: the Horatii, three Roman brothers, swear to their father that they will fight to the death against the Curiatii, three warriors from the rival city of Alba Longa, to settle the conflict between the two cities.
David constructs the scene with extreme clarity and rigour: on the left the three brothers, vigorous and determined; in the centre the father raising the swords as a symbol of patriotic duty; on the right the women of the family, overwhelmed by grief at a fate they know will be tragic. The work exalts the Neoclassical values of civic virtue, sacrifice and discipline, using clean lines, a theatrical composition and sober colours to convey solemnity and moral tension.
Unique quality material
Print on handmade Amalfi paper Sheet size: 29 x 42 cm (11.4 x 16.5 in) With frame: 31 x 44 cm (12.2 x 17.3 in) Material: artwork printed on very fine handmade Amalfi paper with deckled edges Frame: light brown beech wood and wood pulp, handmade
How an Amalfi art print is made, what the frame is like, what museum glass is, how long shipping takes, and how returns work: we’ve gathered all the answers on a single page.
