Comparative Analysis Paper Art History

As I was browsing the galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art two paintings in

particular quickly grabbed my attention. With striking similarities that echo throughout the

composition, as well as differences ranging from the subtle to the obvious, these two works of

art, when compared side by side, seem to have a conversation unlike any other. The first work,

by French artist Nicolas Poussin, was The Abduction of the Sabine Women. It was an oil on

canvas piece of work crafted during the mid 17th century during the baroque era. Located two

galleries east of this painting was The Death of Socrates. This painting, by another French artist

named Jacques Louis David, is also a work created using oil on canvas and was erected during

the late 18th century. These two paintings were painted only a little over a century apart and

while they share many similarities in their form, structure, and technique, they are also complete

embodiments of the respective art styles existing during the eras to which they belong.

The style of art used in The Abduction of The Sabine Women was defined by a

movement known as baroque art. By definition Baroque art was thought of as a style of art that

used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension,

exuberance and grandeur in all forms of art. As you can see from Poussins composition, crowded

with energized figures moving throughout the scene, as well as some figures who seem to be

crying out in agony, reaching towards others in such a dramatic way, overall increasing the

intensity of the scene.. No matter where you look in this painting there is always a figure doing

something. This something can range from the horses in the background who almost get lost

amidst all of the chaos to the man standing in the left foreground of the painting who seems to be

looking into all of the chaos with probably the calmest demeanor of everybody present. This

contrast between figures in the image really interested me. It forced me to wonder who was this

man and why, while everybody around him seemed to be clustered together, moving and rushing

around, was he looking on, saying or doing almost no more than just lifting his robe with a half

smile on his face. I believe that this contrast is quintessential of the baroque period and without

this figure, as well as the two behind him, maintaining this calm demeanor, the piece would not

be as sound in composition. Having something like this figure in the foreground ties the chaos

together giving me as the viewer time a place to rest my eyes from time to time. Upon reading

the description of this piece I found that this figure was Romulus, who was an important figure in

many classic roman myths, and the raising of the cloak was his signal to his men to begin the

abduction of the women, which would explain his mood in the composition. I still feel as though

his presence within the image was a conscious decision of the artist that has a direct effect on the

composition of the painting.

The style of art used in The Death of Socrates was defined by the art movement known as

Neoclassicism. This art style is defined by exactly what it sounds like, a revival of classic art

performed in ancient greece and rome. All of the art produced throughout this time period,

beginning within the 18th century, drew its inspiration from the classical art and cultures of these

two time periods and this painting, The Death of Socrates, is a very good example of this revival.

The figures represented in the painting by Jacques Louis David are very symbolic of the figures

often portrayed in greek sculpture. While there is no physical motion within the image, like the

motion within The Abduction of The Sabine Women, the level of emotion depicted within the

scene is extremely similar. The disciples of socrates surround him in his dying moment with

looks of agony and grief, some can not bare to look, while others are simply leaving the room

due to the overall intensity of the scene. Regardless of the emotion drawn from the disciples

within the scene everything is very orderly and neat. This being a recurring theme in many

classical paintings. I feel as though most classical paintings have some sort of order to them

which allows me as the viewer to look at them without being overwhelmed. The faces of the

figures within the paintings are very detailed, however they lack emotion. ALl of the real

emotion within the piece is derived from the bodies of the figures. In The Abduction of The

Sabine women, you can read the emotion of the people by looking at their faces, however, I can

not