It's so weird isnt it? Someone's death/murder is where emotion should be flaring but we dont get to see it, something like that shouldn't be that easy to walk away from. All the memories and life reduced to an object thats been thoughtlessly discarded. Personally i think the executioners are more of the focus than the body

@marmarlittlechick

9 ай бұрын

Yes, exactly.

@EyeLean5280

9 ай бұрын

Very well said, looselytelling.

@ericgolombek9037

9 ай бұрын

Exactly my thought. This is a painting about the people who go about "just doing a day's work", even even that work is killing. It is the coldness of the scene that is so striking.

@commoncriminal923

9 ай бұрын

Ok

@malcolmjcullen

9 ай бұрын

It's that one figure of the officer, who is half turning to look back towards Ney's body, that elevates it even more. Just the momentary pause, caught perfectly, that makes you wonder what is going through that officer's mind. Perhaps it's regret at the needless death of the former hero, which somehow grants the tiniest scintilla of dignity to the abandoned corpse.

For me the top hat laying in the mud alongside the corpse lends an extra ruthlessness to the entire scene. It's as if to say that no matter one's station in life we all return to the dirt. It is indeed a brutally cold scene.

Marshal Michel Ney was one of those incredible historical figures that I had so much fun researching when I was growing up. I had a knack for military history and he was one of the shining figures of Napoleonic tactical warfare. He also, like myself reflected his fiery temper in his fiery hair, and was fiercely loyal to his people, his nation, and his soldiers. Years later, when I heard from a friend that we would be able to go see his grave in Paris I was elated, paying respect to a man who gave everything, gambled everything, on what he believed was right.

@brianfpp540

7 ай бұрын

Well said,saves me having to post ..

@liapapailia1227

Күн бұрын

😢

4:31 I think part of what makes this painting so striking (and possibly controversial) from the perspective of a Frenchman (or even a contemporary European) of the 19th century is because of who Marshal Ney was. He was a famous and esteemed soldier and civil servant, with a dashing public persona. Rising from his birth as a commoner, just a few of his acts of heroism: he was famously seen as the last French commander to leave Russia during the winter retreat, he refused to turn Paris into a battlefield when commanded to do so - leading an insurrection of generals against Napoleon himself, and he had five horses shot out from under him and continued to fight during the Battle of Waterloo. He was as close to a Greek-Hero-Myth of a man as you could get in the French army. To see the body of this man, who moments earlier (with great panache) had refused a blindfold and issued the order to fire in his own execution, laying in the mud almost like discarded garbage is jarring. It would have been even more so for a Frenchman of the 19th century. For them, it would be the equivalent of seeing a photo of the body of JFK stashed in a corner while everyone in the room had their back turned to him. (EDIT: After seeing the other paintings in this series, it is a repeating theme: great figures discarded moments after their death.) The "Bravest of the Brave", a man who held a Field Marshal's Baton during the days of the Empire, left lying in the mud next to a bullet riddled wall. Before the days of photography, people didn't see the larger-than-life figures after their deaths like this. P.S. After looking at the series of paintings, the one difference between this and the others is that, looking carefully, you can see the senior officer in the upper left of the painting half turned looking back at Ney's body. In the other paintings, I don't see any of the "killers" looking back. I don't exactly know what that means, but I'm guessing a French military officer of the 19th century would have assigned it some meaning.

I think that the post-execution painting is exceptionally emotionally powerful when compared to the "before" and "during" alternatives. While there's a certain bombastic or grisly excitement to the powerful and sudden motions of an execution as it's happening, and there's anticipation/dread for what's about to happen before an execution, there's a very sobering depressive tone to a recently-slain body laying there as the perpetrators move onwards with life.

@Udontkno7

9 ай бұрын

It reminds me of a show, where two characters murder another, and realize that there's a body there. That it didn't turn to dust, but remains a corpse that you just have to leave, or deal with.

I work in the mortuary industry. Every day I’m faced with the reality of how brittle and fleeting life is. One minute they’re alive, talking, thriving, and the next minute they’re gone, so quickly it’s hard to imagine they were ever even with us. This video in so many ways reminded me of that, and made me cry. It evoked feelings of emptiness and hopelessness, and reminded me how silent the funeral home can be. Some decedents were important in life, others had absolutely no one. Some were elderly and sick, some were taken too soon. This video really resonated with my career. It reminded me that even the best of us will succumb to death when our time’s up, just like some of the prominent figures in these paintings. And just like my job at the funeral home, these painting force us to come to terms with that. This vid is one of my favs, Mr. Canvas. Amazing work.

@DanScott1

9 ай бұрын

Appreciate your words, lost my mum recently, now my dad has those first signs. It's heavy to take, releasing can be difficut. Everybody is important to someone or should be.

@amazinggrace5692

9 ай бұрын

This video also made me cry. My daughter, Laura, died one month after my mother. In total we lost 6 female family members in 2 years (2019-2021); some of my favorite people and biggest supporters after Laura’s death. None were Covid, just an unfortunate grouping. My daughter donated her organs and then her body went to a science lab so her diseases could be studied and help others. It was one thing that kept her going through all her medical woes and she made sure we all knew her wishes. Much love 💕🐝💕

@markuswhetzel1935

9 ай бұрын

Memento Mori!

That was really fascinating, the concept of death is such a surreal idea

@TheCanvasArtHistory

9 ай бұрын

I’m super happy you liked it! Thanks!!

@johnmanole4779

9 ай бұрын

​@@TheCanvasArtHistory the name of the background song plz!😢

@rhettmiller3842

9 ай бұрын

Death is a sexually transmitted disease with a 100% fatality rate. Nothing conceptual or open to any personal beliefs. Once your dead, that's it.

My favorite part of the 'The Execution of Marshal Ney' is the commanding officer turning back to look at what remains of Marshal Ney. You can tell he didn't stop walking, he's just pivoting, slowing just a little, continuing to march with his men. It could be interpreted as a sign of respect, or even disrespect, OR him just making sure the job was completed. But you also see, to the right of the commanding officer, the last 2 soldiers in the line, appear to be turning their heads to talk to each other or at least looking at one another with intent. Were they originally men of Napoleon? Did they serve under the late Marshal? Are they proud of their deed or ashamed? There's a lot to read there.

@moonman8450

9 ай бұрын

To me it seems like he’s the only person that has to show emotions. He’s the one who gave the order, the rest of the soldiers are just part of a machine controlled by him, an extension of his will so to say. What emotions he’s showing I think that’s up to the viewers interpretation

@Rudero3

6 ай бұрын

@@moonman8450 oh that's a good interpretation too.

Marshall Ney is huge to me. The stories of his bravery and achievements during the napolionic war were a big part of my childhood.

Out of all the people I subscribe to youre the only one I consistently watch when they upload. Never stop this.

@TheCanvasArtHistory

9 ай бұрын

What an honour! Thank you!!

Those who killed in these paintings walk away from the violence; we cannot stop looking. You do so much in so few minutes. I owe my growing appreciation for art to your videos. Thank you.

To me personally it feels like the painter tried to tell us, the viewer a message of "it has been done" vocalizing that the executed folk are a thing of the past, that theyre not amongst us anymore. Its powerful and really unique. Great video!

@DragonBoi3789

9 ай бұрын

I would challenge that idea with the Jerusalem painting. Those crucified might not have physically been around, but their legacy has survived for millenia. They are very much part of our present day and, likely, our future for many centuries to come.

@HankTVsux

9 ай бұрын

I like it. Kind of stoicism if I understand that concept correctly.

I also wanted to add that there's an extra-sensory immersion from this artwork. You can hear the boots of the soldiers trudging through the mud as they walk away. The smell of gunpowder is still heavy in the air that surrounds the site of the execution. Very much similar to Goya's "3rd of May, 1808", where you can hear the cries and pleas of the victims, the movement of the rifles as the soldiers prepare to fire another volley, and the shouting commands from the French officer as the troops take aim. These works definitely want to pull you into the environment as a direct witness, and not just a casual observer walking by in a gallery.

What really gets to me for some reason is his top hat, laying uselessly on the ground right by his body. A part of a gentleman's attire, worn proudly just moments before, now rolled over in the muck, man that once worn it no more. I look at it and I instantly understand, "it's over."

Thank you for showing me 4 paintings I did't know existed and how strong, emotional and striking they are, and showing not the barbaric act but the shocking, dreadful and terribly sad result of it. You can hear the horrid silence of the scene and the solitude of the dead.

Is like subtext what is not said rather than what's being said in acting. The fact of not being explicit with the shocking incident and leaving your brain to complete what happened makes it more striking. It's us who are connecting the dots rather than having it told is more gratifying as a spectator.

The video is a poem/painting in itself. The music, the soft way you speak, the pictures. Especially with the violin.

As a person who makes comics, I just want to say your videos have been invaluable in making me think more about how art works and how I approach it, this video in particular is making me think a lot about how I have approached things in the past, and is making me reconsider how I will approach them in the future. Thank you for doing such fascinating breakdowns and analysis!

@Naqvioski

9 ай бұрын

Share your works! Happy to meet more people who do new media but explore more classical works.

We appreciate your insights. Keep working hard.

@TheCanvasArtHistory

9 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Sophia!!

How you revealed the focal point of the Jerusalem painting was fantastic; I literally let out gasp. Very well done! Who knew one could be surprised by a painting?

Ney's execution is a big example of ingratitude and it makes the painting even more sad

Awesome, just as usually. Thank you so, so much. As an "artist" myself (I'm 16 and know almost nothing about art history) I want to say that I was never interested in artists of previous years enough to make my own researches, and only after watching your videos I'm finally starting to come to understanding of just how much can one express true visual arts. Sadly, art schools are not stressing out at all just how important it is to learn from our ancestors or else not giving you any directions on how to actually analyze paintings. So, yes, my sincere gratitude. (English is not my mother tongue).

@jztouch

9 ай бұрын

I hate to hear that art schools aren't giving students an overview of art history as I strongly believe that the best artists have researched past artists and put little hints of them in their art. As an example George Condo clearly has many influences from the past that inform his paintings but at the same time he has made them all his own. Keith Haring was influenced by Aboriginal art and Picasso by African masks he came across in a museum in Paris as well as other artists working in Paris at the same time such as Georges Braque. A great formula to start to find a style is in my opinion finding artists you like from the past and present and letting them influence your work and also befriending working artists. An artist is rarely able to produce in isolation.

@AlexandraDavydova-in3et

9 ай бұрын

@@jztouch Yes, thank you for pointing it out! Just like you said very few if not no people are capable of creating without any background. Therefore I see that all the artists I know (not depending on their skills) are no more but visuals makers. I guess, after graduating art colleges/academies we will learn, but now it's kind of sad.

Love your videos :)

@TheCanvasArtHistory

9 ай бұрын

Thanks!! :)

As always, wonderful to get a glimpse of deep insight on a Sunday evening. Thank you, good man!

You should definitely make a video about the epic paintings showing the Greek revolution of 1821. Many famous ones were done by Eugène Delacroix "the Massacre of Chios" (1822), Karl Krazeisen, greek artist Nikolaos Gyzis and many more great artists that have provided pictures of events that changed the history of Greece which i believe is not mentioned enough.

In the other paintings at least there was a realization that whatever was happening, it was not acceptable. The dissent was expressed. But in Gérome's paintings, one has even been robbed from the power to express dissent; Left silent, dead.

Gerome is an artist who deserves to be 'rediscovered'. He takes a very insightful viewpoint - let's face it, depicting the action is dramatic in the moment; but depicting the aftermath conjures so much more drama from what has just happened, why it happened, and the consequences that follow on.

i’m not really into painting as i am into other forms of art, but something about this was really impactful

The reality of death through execution is made more palpable by showing the aftermath, the gruesomely tragic truth, the consequence. These depictions are truly thought provoking.

Marshall Ney would have been a folk hero to the people of the era where the painting was made. He led a large force of troops that were cut off during the Russian winter back to the main French force. Additionally in 1868 Napoleon the Third was in power, so it would stand to reason that men like Ney would be Lionized (the impact of which would have been significant as previously his fame would have been suppressed by the Bourbons). Its humbling, it shows that no matter how great you are you are still just a man. No matter how hard you fight you always end up in the ground. And no matter how passionately you strive (Vive l'empereur fading in the background and being shot away is symbolic of this) people will forget you when you are no longer useful. Great video.

There is also the silence after the ending of the video. As with most of your videos. And it is very much appreciated🙏

I believe I am genuinely uneducated in art. I have always been fascinated but always too afraid to ask or even look up and try to understand some art. This channel has changed all of that for me. Like a quiet deep sense of appreciation for the work and for the time spent on people like myself. Thank you.

Looking at the paintings it’s so bizarre to see the coldness of them. Most paintings depicting a violent death show some kind of struggle or battle or even emotion but the image of the Marshall face down in the mud with no one even bothering to move him is so chilling to me

This were the fastest 10 minutes of my life! Good job man, you got me interseted into art history

That Jerusalem painting made me audibly go "Ohhhhhh" after you pointed out what the shadows were.

Art truly breathes life into the human mind. It can all seem so hopeless until your feelings are validated by another man from houndreds of years ago, expressing the very feelings you feel at present moments.

0 seconds ago I was recently in Chicago, and saw the version of the Suite d'un bal masqué (he painted several) that is in the Museum of the Institute of Art (which I think is the one you are showing), and felt the depiction of both consequence and uselessness of violence as a recourse. You cried honor, great ideas and principles, and go to defend them in arms, but in the end, what is left is the machinery of life called a body ceasing its functions while becoming a corpse, and silence. The world was not changed, less became better, while La Vie is suddenly interrupted, leaving not a glorious hymn, but instead silence, the only song for nothingness. I felt that was what the painter told me.

It's that one figure of the officer, who is half turning to look back towards Ney's body, that elevates it even more. Just the momentary pause, caught perfectly, that makes you wonder what is going through that officer's mind. Perhaps it's regret at the needless death of the former hero, which somehow grants the tiniest scintilla of dignity to the abandoned corpse.

first two minutes of the video display such gravitas cemented by the piece you chose to have played, may you share the name of the piece it’s genuinely so beautiful

your work brings all this art to life for me. I was blind and now I see. Thank you.

I really love how you talk and present those artists and their artworks in your videos. Art history can be so damn amazing if you have a good narrative or video-essay like yours. Wish I could say the same about my art teacher in school.

Strangely one of my first impressions when I saw the painting was an association with Helene Schjerfbeck's Wounded Warrior in the Snow, and I couldn't really figure out why, until you pointed out the theme in this artist's paintings of people walking away from scenes of violence. That's the connection (Wounded Warrior in the Snow doesn't depict an execution, specifically, but it does depict a wounded soldier left behind to die, while the rest of the troop marches away in the distance)

When I am drawn in or intrigued by a certain work, I now find other works by the same artist online and compare, contrast and let other levels of my observation work. You brought that to me through your art. Merci beaucoup encore...😌

Death is so humbling. No matter how powerful one has ever been, after their death, the living continues on living.

That was so viscerally poignant! The greatest outrage is the indifference.

The sheer level of detail in the execution of Caesar is unbelievable

I didn't know Gerome painted such powerful paintings, he's more famous for his mythological and historical works

i think nothing could be more painful than knowing that a loved one died in such a thoughtless way. All these men had someone that relied on them, that believed in them, only to die in such a empty and gruesome way; their lives discarded so frivolously.

Aftermath, there is power there, the reality of the situation is clear. Great painting.

these realy hit different

I love how you explain art/paintings, I am a big fan as soon as I can be a patron I will, Please keep doing what your doing, you make art and this world better ... Thank You

Thank you so much for continuing to introduce me to such beautiful artworks. Love your videos!

Giving the order to fire at your own execution is pretty badass I must say.

Thank you, amazing video!

Excellent!!!

Insightful and thought-provoking analysis as always, I love this kind of videos

Thank u for the content!

Thank you. “The Sounds of Silence “. Well Done

Well reasoned perspective, very well presented and nicely edited vid. Cheers for the upload.

After seeing the 4 paintings, what strikes me the most is that "The execution of Marshall Ney" is the only one where one of the executioners is actively looking back at the victim. It evokes, to me, the feeling of contemplation and a tinge of doubt/remorse about it while they walk away from the scene, while in the others, the act is done and the perpetrators don't seem to second guess it, in the Caesar one, they somewhat revel in it

Gratefully, I have been edified yet again. Thank you!

I love your videos. I have always been fascinated with art history, but I was always too intimidated to take a proper class. This channel is everything I idealized what that experience could have felt like, and I'm so glad I found your channel. Also, you have a really calming voice

Wonderful video, once again! I am so happy to see a new Canvas video, because I know I'll be introduced to a great artist I hadn't heard of. This time, I had heard of Gérôme, but hadn't seen The Execution of Marshal Ney or Jerusalem. And now, they are two of my favourite 19th century paintings. Great work!

I can hear this painting, it is so powerful.

Great video and the story was also fascinating.

@TheCanvasArtHistory

9 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Beautiful, calm voice explaining wonderful paintings. Thank you.

Really interesting video, thank you for always choosing such interesting paintings to show us, these 4 were really all so interesting. Great stuff man, lookin forward to the next one

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Learned a decent amount! Thanks

I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am to have come across your channel. I was introduced to you with 'Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan', and have been hooked ever since. After viewing every video, I have a mini lecture with myself to fully express my own thoughts and impressions on the works you depict. With this one, I don't know why, but I feel the need to comment on a few points that jumped out at me: TLDR: Wow, sorry, this turned into an essay WAY too quickly. Short form, it's interesting to observe who's looking back at the deceased, and who is shown in light v in shadow or faded. Thank you again for your incredible content! 1. In The Execution of Marshal Ney, I was intrigued by the figure of the head executioner as he turns to glance at Ney's body. There's no need for him to confirm that Ney is still there, and no reason to confirm that he is indeed deceased. Yet Gerome shows him giving a final glance, and we're left wondering why. 2. The Duel After the Masquerade, the depiction of colors, and their level of vibrancy as we view each varying subject seems deliberate. Gerome wants us to first focus on the injured man, despite the fact that his white costume and paling skin so closely match the snow, and the pale sky. Being surrounded by more vibrantly clothed companions further draws our attention, and emphasizes the contrast between life and death. Meanwhile, the equally vibrantly colored opponents are faded, because they're walking away. The opponent appears to be supported by his companion, either from an injury, or, given the discarded sword, as a moral support. From that, I gather that the man, traumatized by what happened, couldn't even bear to face what he has done, and needed to leave immediately. Just my thoughts on that piece. 3. Jerusalem: I think I found this one the most fascinating. The skyline looks highly unnatural (unless it's the shadow from a nearby tree, but I doubt that), especially given the crescent moon on the far right, orange in hue, and cloaked in a darkness that seems to bleed into the sky. We're almost meant to focus on the crucified shadows, based on the brightest level of light directed on them. This observation would lead us to then note that the crowd now descends, both literally and figuratively, into darkness. The exception is two of the Romans who look back, and appear to be saluting the condemned, or at least giving some form of respectful acknowledgement. 4. The Death of Caesar: I like how this piece seems to contrast with the previous two, in terms of light and shadow. Caesar is shown in fading light, despite being dressed in the same white cloth as his killers. The killers are more brightly depicted as they rush out into the light of day to proudly declare what they have done. One older senator on the right, a little separate from the crowd, glances back at Caesar's body, and is one of the only three with his weapon held downward.

This is one of my favorite paintings. Even before I knew it’s story. Love the video and the profile !!🎉🎉

There is silence but I also hear the sound of the boots walking away. It's strikingly cinematic, maybe something Kubrick might do if he had filmed the scene.

Thank you for your great videos!

As a french, you pronounce very well french words and names. I could hardly pronounce english names this well!

Really enjoy your content. Learn a lot of new to me art, about said art, and a little about why I've always been drawn more to darker side of life. Thank you!

A very interesting video to get in my front page recommendations I’ll enjoy exploring a few other videos from this channel

Another great video. Thank you.

A similar painting to Goya's is "Execution of Torrijos and his Companions on the Beach at Málaga" by Antonio Perez (Both in the Del Prado) while it doesn't show the immediate after math it does depict all the aspects of an execution. Those dead, those who will be, the monks who hear their confessions etc.

Bravo! Thank you

What a wonderful critique about the painting, its context and its meaning❤

Lovely.

I love your content, so relaxing, so informative and well said, excellent content big man!

I was thinking about Victor Jara today. In a couple of weeks it will be 50 years since his murder. This thing reminded me again. It's over, he's dead, the body is lying there, it can't be undone, ever. Even 50 years later. I was alone when I found out, nobody else knew yet. I was in the basement of a communal household following the teletype, when Prensa Latina dropped the news. People had seen his body. His fingers were broken and bleeding. It was like his body was lying there, in the dark, and there was nothing to be done. It haunts me. I Googled just now for paintings of Victor Jara's death, but the images that came up were tributes of various kinds. Except for this one - it's a painting you talked about in another post. "Guayasamín’s paintings are large, bold, stark. Many of them document poverty, or brutality. In his painting titled Tears of Blood, a man with his hands over his face, his eyes wide in horror, peers out from the darkness. Blood flows from his eyes. This is Guayasamín’s homage to Neruda, Salvador Allende, and activist and singer-songwriter Víctor Jara." The body is still lying there, yes. But somebody else sees it, too. aftertheart.com/2019/03/19/the-chapel-of-man-and-all-that-endures/

Thank-you for such an insightful & revealing journey through these paintings,I was intruiged as soon as I saw the painting,I really like your way of presenting your films,Paula,England x

Beautiful video

Interesting observations and parallels. Good analysis!

"I have fought a hundredth battles for France, not one against her" Supposedly Ney last words before being executed. Ney was an extraordinary marshal. Ney was the marshal sent to arrest Napoleon after his return from Elba, there Ney and all the French soldier joined Napoleon's cause again. Ney was a hero of the retreat from Russia, he covered the retreat and was the last men to get to safety, there's a great painting about that scene btw. Ney is also blamed for Napoleon loss at Waterloo, where he used the cavalry with little success against the British. Very interesting man, along with many of the Marshals of the Empire. An extraordinary group of men.

Im entering to the world of art history and your videos always have the perfect balance of actual history of humanity and the meaning of the paintings. Congratulations for your work! Hope we see more :-)

I really like these videos you do where you explore a concept through artworks. you've convinced me to join

Awesome. Thanks

Thank you for this.

Great video as always! I love how atmospheric your works are. It really brings these paintings to live. though I would wish you talked a bit more about Ney and his exicution in detail. To me the painting shows just perfectly how quickly on can fall from grace and world history.

Thanks!

the hardest part of death for me is always how normal everything is just days after.

Gerome is one of my favorite artists, simply I think because he was an academic painter; since I am an academic, I guess it might be an occupational hazard. Regarding the Execution of Marshal Ney, and yes, I am aware of who he was, I think that you hit the nail on the head, it is the lack of dignity, of respect shown to this once respected individual that makes this so striking, but also the lack of respect shown to another human. As far as Gerome's other paintings that you showed, I can't say that I ever noticed the similarity, at least not consciously.

Well done maestro 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Thanks ❤❤

It was so interesting! Thank you!

My spouse and I watch your videos on our television, so we can't leave comments. I came here today to subscribe on my computer and let you know how much I enjoyed learning about Gerome and his execution paintings. Your videos are remarkable, and we enjoy them all. Thank you.

I'm a history student, and art history is one of those areas I've always been fascinated by, but it isn't my strong point. These videos are great for building new appreciation for the field, and for that i can't thank you enough.

Very well done