George Washington- He is drawn standing tall and proud looking. Washington has one arm extending, as if he is reaching out to everybody else like he is saying "follow me" or "I will guide the way". He has a sheathed sword in his left hand pointing towards the ground, which could symbolize that he will lead with peace and that his job as a war leader is over. The items on the table, such as the red table cloth, could stand for the blood that was shed to break off their country from Great Britain. He is wearing a long, black jacket with black pants and shoes.
Marat- This picture of Marat is of him dead. There is what appears to be a stab wound in his chest. There is blood on the letter in his hand and on the blanket under him. He looks as if he is smiling with his eyes closed. This could be like he had finished what he started successfully and it was his dying feat. The quill in his hand and letter suggest that he just finished the letter, which could be an announcement that France is free from the tyranny of the French crown. The picture of him dead is important because it shows that until his death he was fighting to free the people of France.
Toussaint Louverture- The picture of Louverture is of him standing with a proud, accomplished look on his face. It is as if he has finally overthrown the French government in Haiti. His sword is in its sheath, as Washington's was. This could symbolize that his job as a rebel has finished and that his time to lead has begun. He is holding a large sheet in his hand with writing, which could be the Haitian constitution. Louverture is wearing rather elegant military clothing, especially compared to the man behind him. The picture appears as though it were meant to make Louverture seem like a vibrant and powerful man.
Simon Bolivar- Simon Bolivar has an extremely elegant uniform like that of Toussaint Louverture. Out of all four paintings, he is the only one looking straight at the painter, which could signify that he was a haughty yet willing man. There appears to be some sort of glow emanating from his left shoulder and face that could try to make him seem more royal and elegant. Bolivar is holding something in his left hand, which once again seems to be a sheathed sword to signify the end of the war. His right hand is in his jacket and over his heart, which might mean that he is pledging himself to his people
In each depiction of the revolutionaries, they all have something in their hands. However, Marat is the only one without a sheathed sword; he has a quill. The sheathed swords all could represent the end of hard times, while the quill and bloody letter could indicate that the difficulty is just beginning for France. Marat also is the only one not wearing elegant looking clothes. The elegant clothes could try and give the men a powerful air to their appearance. Each picture has the person's name somewhere on it except for that of George Washington. The names on the pictures serve to remind everybody who led them through their individual revolutions, to try and make them seem more important. The lack of George Washington's name could be his way of making him more of a common man as opposed to someone who everybody should know and be loyal or subject to.
The revolutions all needed a heroic figure. Somebody was needed to unite the rebels into one force to fight against their ruling superiors. Also, the heroic figure was necessary to spark the uprising and try to bring other people to support them. Each depiction of revolution leaders express similar qualities. They all express the resilience that the leaders possessed. This is most prominent from the sheathed swords, showing that they would not quit, and the painting of Marat, who had just finished a letter, possibly declaring freedom, right before he was killed. The dominant quality shown, however, is loyalty to their land. It is evident in each painting that the leaders would stand by their fellow rebels no matter what, because they are all depicted with their weapons on them, except Marat who was painted dead to further extend the loyalty and dedication to the people of France.
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