Livy (the Roman historian) wrote, "[The women] went boldly into the midst of the flying missiles with disheveled hair and rent garments. Running across the space between the two armies they tried to stop any further fighting and calm the excited passions by appealing to their fathers in the one army and their husbands in the other not to bring upon themselves a curse by staining their hands with the blood of a father-in-law or a son-in-law, nor upon their posterity the taint of parricide. "If," they cried, "you are weary of these ties of kindred, these marriage-bonds, then turn your anger upon us; it is we who are the cause of the war, it is we who have wounded and slain our husbands and fathers. Better for us to perish rather than live without one or the other of you, as widows or as orphans."
In 1796, when David began this painting, France was at war with the rest of Europe. France's civil disputes had lead to international problems following the French Revolution, and its future was uncertain. David himself was in prison as a supporter of the Revolution. While in prison, his estranged wife visited him and he decided to paint this piece, as a commemoration to her and also as a cry to the people to reunite after the Revolution. The main figure in the painting is Hersilia, the wife of Romulus (one of the founders of Rome) who was also the daughter of Titus Tatius, the leader of the Sabines. She stands between her father and her husband with her babies at their feet. Because of her bold move, the leaders of the war stop fighting long enough to consider the destruction of two groups of people and the rising generation.
Upon the painting's completion in 1799, it was originally exhibited with a large mirror so the viewer would look at the painting (which is life sized) and then look at themselves. It is obviously a call for the people to identify with Hersilia and take action in the unification of France. I absolutely love this painting for the story and for what it stands for. Hersilia's pose is so powerful. Though David painted her feminine- not necessarily physically strong- there is a definite strength about her. I think it interesting that David would choose her as the symbol for the way to reunite France. He must have had a high opinion of women and counted on them to restore France for the good of the rising generation.
I think David was absolutely right. Women are the ones who can make change. They are the peacemakers, the ones who save lives and prepare for the success of future generations. Women, in their femininity, carry a strong power, the power that can stop wars, power that can unite families and in turn, build nations.
