The artwork “The Three Horatii Brothers” is a significant creation of the prominent Neoclassical artist Jacques-Louis David, crafted in the year 1785. Executed in chalk, this sketch and study represents an essential phase in the compositional development of David’s oeuvre. The artwork spans an impressive 580 cm by 450 cm and currently resides in the Musée Bonnat in Bayonne, France. True to the Neoclassical ethos, the sketch reflects the aesthetic ideals of the period through its subject matter and style.
In the artwork, the figures of the Three Horatii Brothers are captured with a careful delineation of form, expressing a solemn and robust atmosphere befitting the narrative they belong to. The brothers are depicted in profile, which accentuates their classical physicality and the dramatics of the moment. The artist’s skill in rendering the human form is evident through the meticulous definition of musculature and drapery. The use of chalk on the textured surface gives the work a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, further enhancing the three-dimensional quality of the figures. The square grid visible throughout the sketch suggests that this study was likely used to upscale the final work, relating to the meticulous processes David employed in his practice. The unified stance and gesture of the figures imply a thematic allegiance and shared destiny, which are central to the story from ancient Roman history that David chose to depict.