Death of Marat (1793) Jacques Louis David

Marat quote on this painting:

'Friend of the people' who had suffered the fate of a martyr while working for the common weal.'

What does this show he learned from classical art?

Give the appearance of noble beauty through the muscles, but also to leave out all details which aren't essential to the main effect - aiming at simplicity. No complex colours or foreshortening, compared to Copley's great showpiece it looks austere.

David began to portray scenes from the French Revolution itself:

He intended death of Marat not only to serve as a record of an important event in the struggle to overthrow the monarchy but also to provide inspiration and encouragement to the revolutionary forces.

David based Marat's figure on what?

On Christ in Michelangelo's Pieta, presenting Marat as a tragic martyr who died in the service of the revolution.

All narrative details:

Placed in the foreground; knife, wound blood, in an attempt to bring forth a powerful emotional reaction in the viewer.

Cold neutral space above Marat's figure:

Provide a chilling oppressiveness. David vividly placed in the foreground with the knife and the blood to sharpen the sense of pain and outrage.

New altarpiece:

Reference to Christ's martyrdom made the painting a kind of altarpiece for the new civic religion, inspiring the French people with the saintly dedication of their slain leader.