Classical Art Exhibit

Marie Antoinette being taken to her Execution,
October 16, 1793 by William Hamilton 1794

This painting stuck out to me due to the contrast between the soldiers and crowd surrounding the bright white angelic look of Marie Antoinette as she is led to her death. Knowing the history and that Marie is on her way to be executed with the crowd attempting to break through the soldier gives me a sobering feeling of dread when viewing this particular painting. I would own a print of this painting because of the history and the details that are depicted within the piece. As far as the presentation of the artwork goes, it definitely allows for someone to understand the struggle that was occurring during the French Revolution when Marie was killed meaning that a museum presenting information about the French Revolution would be an excellent place to present this piece.

Marie Antoinette was executed during the French Revolution on October 16, 1793 and Hamilton does an excellent job of depicting the angry crowd that despised her due to her frivolous spending habits while the rest of the country was starving in a financial crisis. It is interesting how Hamilton seems to make her seem angelic and innocent of her crimes when it comes to her execution due to the light that seems to be emanating from her. The painting is an accurate representation of the turmoil that was occurring in France at the time and the struggle between the aristocrats and royalty versus the angry people who were suffering due to their careless spending habits.

The Battle of Princeton by James Peale

Compared to other paintings of this era, James Peale's painting does not have the extravagant details that are in some of the other paintings during the Classical Revolution period, but to me it feels like he more accurately depicts the battle and removes the dramatic aspect that can be found in other paintings. Upon closer inspection, I can see how George Washington is vastly outnumbered by the British forces that can be seen off in the distance behind the fence. To me this painting does not make me feel very happy, but it does not make me feel anything negative either. It is very drab and I do not think I would own a copy of the painting because I am not a particular fan of the colors and scene that is being depicted. This piece would make a great addition to an art exhibit about the American Revolution or in a military museum with other pieces from the Revolution. James Peale and his brother both served in the military during the Revolution under Washington. Hamilton used his sketches from the battle as references for the painting later on.

The American Revolution is the basis of the painting and heavily leans on the theme of the Revolution that was occurring at the time. Because Hamilton was on the American side of the battle, it is depicted with the intent to show the view of how they beat the odds to defeat the British. Even though the painting is not as sophisticated as some of the from the era, it accurately depicts the battle when it comes to how the canons were run and the depiction of George Washington and his horse Nelson.

The death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill,
17 June, 1775 by John Trumbull

Just looking at the painting there is a lot to unpack. While my eyes are naturally drawn to the man on the ground known as General Warren because of the white of his shirt and the two men surrounding him also wearing the same color, there are still many details about the battle that is still raging behind them. I can feel the turmoil of the struggle coming from the painting due to the intricate details that bring out the difficult struggle that is ensuing. The painting makes me feel a little depressed due to the loss of life that is very apparent from the strewn bodies on the ground and how the ground is red from blood. I do find it interesting how the battle is bright and light while the man with the sword in the corner is in the shadows with dark clouds over him despite the blue sky that is above the struggling men. When it comes to owning this piece, I think I would purchase a print because of the history and the colors. I do like the struggle that seems to be present in the light and the darkness. This piece should be presented in an area with other pieces from the Revolution whether it be a museum or an art gallery that has other pieces from the Battle of Bunker Hill. John Trumbull presented his sketches before he began the painting to Abigail Adams who in turn said it made her "blood shiver" from the realistic depiction of the battle. General Warren was the man who sent off Paul Revere and William Dawes to Lexington to send the message that British troops were on the way.

The details in the painting allow for more insight into the bloody era of the American Revolution. Many of the faces within the painting were men who actually fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill like William Howe and Henry Clinton along with several other men who were present on both the American and the British side of the battle. While the Revolution is the basis of the painting, it is interesting how Trumbull chose historical accuracy by including several of the famous British officers and generals fighting against the Americans. Another interesting aspect that Trumbull added was the depiction of several Native Americans who fought in the battle along with African Americans as well. The historical accuracy of the painting is very important to the era of Revolutionary paintings during this time.

Sources:“The French Revolution in 5 Iconic Paintings.” TheCollector, 6 Sept. 2021, https://www.thecollector.com/french-revolution-in-5-iconic-paintings/.

“Research Guides: Women in the French Revolution: A Resource Guide: Marie Antoinette.” Marie Antoinette - Women in the French Revolution: A Resource Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress, https://guides.loc.gov/women-in-the-french-revolution/marie-antoinette. 

“James Peale and the Battle of Princeton | Princeton University Art Museum.” Princeton University, The Trustees of Princeton University, https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/story/james-peale-and-battle-princeton. 

“Imagining the Battle of Princeton.” The American Revolution Institute, 2 June 2022, https://www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/lesson-plans/imagining-the-revolution/imagining-the-battle-of-princeton/. 

The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, 17 June, 1775 – Works – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, https://collections.mfa.org/objects/34260.