 Lines: Within the work, The Oath of the Horatii, there are quite lot of implied as well as actual

lines. In regards to actual lines you can see the pillars there to create a sense of depth as well as
define the limits of the setting of the work. There is also the clear actual line of the ground and
the tiles there to help establish the space as well. There are actual lines there that contribute to
implied lines as well. The lines of the central figure’s hands and his gaze traveling up in pleading
to the heavens. The swords in his hand facing down to show he means no violence. The implied
line of them to separate the man from the soldiers. The soldiers’ own arms working well as lines
to point to the central figure and draw focus to him as well. The organic lines as well are present
in the outfits and the faces to help establish a sense of reality and realism to the work.
 Shapes: Within The Oath of the Horatii there is a solid definition of the shapes. The lines and
lighting work as well to help define clearly the limits between the positive shapes of many of the
figures and the negative shapes of the background as well as the mother and her children. It is
interesting how it appear very much so that the women and her child seem designed, shape
wise to blend more into the negative shapes and the background. As if they are hoping to be
ignored and forgotten.
 Space: In The Oath of the Horatii there is a masterful use of one point perspective working with
the lines and clearly defined shapes to help create a sense of space and openness to the work.
Giving a sense of gravity in how the hall they are in seems to continue on into the. The lines of
the walls and floor working well to make the vanishing point the fact of the central figure.
Another way to draw the eye to him.
 Light: The Oath of the Horatii uses light dramatically and uses it well to help accent the
importance of some figures compared to others as well as to help and establish space. With it
being darker the further back you get in the painting as well as the clear sharp lines created by
the light on the front most figures. Another key note in regards to light in my opinion is how the
implied line of the central figure’s gaze is towards the source of the light that along with his
motion and expression seem to imply a divine nature to the light. There is also the high contrast
palette to the work where the light makes hard dark lines to it to help set the tone of tension
and really make the more frontal figures stand out in a dramatic way.
 Color: The core colors of the painting is a tan, grey and black. Those are the color more so of the
background and the setting of the work. They blend well with the skin tones and parts of the
fabric of the clothes however the appeal of this choice to make those bland simple colors the
focus is they work well to make the blues and red pop. To really help them to draw the eyes. The
blue seeming to show the sense of sadness to the event as the red shows the sense of energy
and worry.
 Texture: While the painting does well to have clear texture of the smoothed feeling of polished
stone as well as the rough texture of the clothes, it is more in service to realism than it seems to
be in direct service to the narrative presented or the ideas presented by the painting. Still they
do quite well to help the painting feel more real.
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Lines
Space

Texture Shapes Color