Mars Disarmed by Venus was David's last painting before his untimely death in 1825. The painting depicts Mars, the god of war,  handing over his spear, shield, and sword to Venus, the goddess of love. Behind them are Venus' three graces who are taking his helmet . At the bottom, Cupid is seem unwrapping Mars' sandals with a devilish grin on his face. 

David's color choice was also interesting. The red in the cape of Mars symbolizes war since Mars is the god of war. It also represents love since Venus is the goddess of love. Along the bottom of the canvas, black smokes seems to engulf the painting. The black smoke represents the fact that David knew he was dying and adds the blackness to represent the way death was coming over him. The roses on the head dress Venus is about to place on the head of Mars are white and pink. The pink represents the admiration Venus has for Mars, and the white represents the purity that is associated with Venus. 

The work symbollically depicts the bloody conflicts between France and other Europeans after the Reign of Terror; he seemingly presents a critique of violence and instead suggests to bond over a common hatred. The painting, set at Tarpeian Rock where convicts were thrown off, shows women and their children rushing to escape after being kidnapped by a group of soldiers due to their sexuality and the discourse between Sabines and Romans.

Despite the apparent violence in this work, its value derives from David's ability to express underlying messages in his political works. David planned out his harsh and angular lines, sespecially with sthe pears. However, the circular shield stands out in a crowd of lines, shining gold. It represents safety, protection, and selflessness: all of what's desired by the women. The sky speaks to me because although blue and sunny towards the middle while storm clouds pass like a new hopefully more peaceful era arrives. At first glance I thought of this painting as a sacrifice that the women were making for their children. After researching context and over time, I saw themes of violence, peace, motherhood, rape, sexism, and yet hope. The centered woman in pure white reaches out to request peace, much as as David did painting this work.

Painted in 1845, Ingres', Portrait of Comtesse d'Haussonville focuses on the beauty and wealth of women during this time. At first glance, I thought this was a photograph because it looks almost too realistic to be true. The painting was started in the summer of 1842 and finished in the summer of 1845, because the Comtesse was constantly traveling and at one point she had a child. 

Her family comes from a long line of wealthy individuals. In fact, her great-grandfather was the financial director of Louis XVI, and granddaughter to Madame de Stael, a well-known woman through Europe.  

The colors of this are stunning: from the periwinkle dress to the red ribbon in her hair. The dress also helps to bring the focus to her. The painting is mostly anatomically correct, with the exception of her face. It seems to be a little to small compared to her body.

French painter Jacques-Louis David became the most influential artist during 18th century. He successfully set the example of Neoclassicism, a style is heavily influenced by the art and history of ancient Greece and Rome. He was a beast when it came to keeping the geometry influence in his pieces similar to how Romans and Greek dudes used to do.

The Oath of the Horatii blends ancient Rome and French Neoclassical elements, such as strong geometrical figures to define the new style that David had mastered. The piece itself tells the story of two families at war in Rome. The Horattis and the Curattis were having a conflict between three brothers on both sides. The catch is that both families have baes that are related to each-other, so if anyone dies they all suffer, which sucks.

The architecture such as the columns and arches are bold and define the dynamics of the family presented in the piece. The men are rigid and strong like the columns, while the women are curved and dependent on the columns. This is his most popular creation due to the fact that it's straight up Neo Class. 

Jupiter and Thetis is based on the book of Iliad that begins with those who participated in the Trojan war, Agamemnon and Achilles. In their honor and bravery, Agamemnon, the king of Achaeans, and Achilles, the son of a sea nymph Thetis, both receivesprizes. Agamemnon, must give up his prize (Chryseis) in order to prevent a mass famine; Achilles was forced to give up his war prizes to Agamemnon. Feeling disrespected, Achilles prays to Thetis for his sorrow of losing his honor, and he begs his mother to speak to Zeus. Thetis manages to speak to Zeus and convinces him to do what she wishes.

Ingres portrays contrast between female and male power in the painting. This can be seen through the delicate and curviness of Thetis's body and the broad, muscular body of Zeus. It shows the dominance of male over female. However it's interesting how Thetis easily manipulates Zeus by her erotic hand gestures. She is gently stroking his beard and she's leaning closely onto him as Hera watches them. The triangular composition in the center of the painting slightly suggests triumph of Zeus's power, and halo-like faint black lines can be in the back of Zeus's head. The eagle resembles Zeus representing that the animal sees everything like the God himself. The color of Thetis's dress compliments the red cloth of Zeus and also contrasts the cobalt-blue sky. 

The sculpture Hercules and Lichas created by Antonio Canova is an 11-foot tall masterpiece. The sculpture took Canova 20 years to complete but was worked on in increments due to various interruptions. It depicts a scene from the story of Hercules' death. The story begins when Hercules shoots Nessus, a centaur, with a poison arrow. Before Nessus dies, he gives a shirt with his poisoned blood on it to Hercules's wife. Nessus tells her that if she gives the shirt to Hercules she will never have to doubt Hercules's love for her. Lichas, the servant of Hercules takes the shirt to him but when he puts it on he goes mad from the pain and throws Lichas into the ocean.

The entire sculpture makes a triangle pulling the viewer's eyes to the top. Almost all of the limbs of Hercules and Lichas are parallel, which creates a strong sense of motion upwards and to the right. Both Hercules's visually and physically superior size create a large weight to the right side of the sculpture that also draws the eyes in that direction. There is also a half circle starting and Hercules's left foot running through the lion skin, up through Lichas's body and to Hercules's left arm. This half circle encompasses Hercules drawing focus to him.

Since this sculpture is monotone and was not given any color, detail is very important. And it sure has a lot of detail. Even Hercules's veins near the surface are visible. The tiny creases of the shirt Hercules is wearing are even visible.

Eryn McKynzie Madison,

I chose to dedicate this painting to you because of how much you mean to me. When I saw that little girl on the painting it made me feel like I was looking at you. I felt like we were back at home together watching movies and eating pizza in the living room floor.

You’ve been my best friend for 14 years now. Every year I see you grow more and more into the person you’ll be for the rest of your life. I know what you’re going through is getting harder and harder by the day, but you’ll get through it. I went through the exact same thing when I was your age and even when I was a bit older, so I completely understand how you’re feeling. Through all the court cases and family drama just know that I love you and I’m here for you whenever for whatever.

Momma,

I chose to thank you with this painting because I know it’s something that you’d hate at first. I can hear you now, “There is no way that could mean anything. That’s a line. Seriously.” And you’d be right, as always. It is a line. But it’s not just any line, because it’s one of Barnett Newman’s emblematic zip paintings and it happens to be titled, First Station. 

After years of you teaching me, it’s my turn to teach you a little something. 

Newman created a series of fourteen paintings that represented the Fourteen Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross outline the horrific events of Jesus’ last day on Earth. Historically, artistic depictions of the stations were meant to reanimate the trauma of His crucifixion so that they become newly raw and searingly real regardless of the viewer’s familiarity with art or even the church. 

As we’ve grown together, I’ve seen you step away from your Southern Baptist roots in favor of a faith still traditional in its beliefs yet more modern in its applications. I think that’s exactly what Newman was trying to get at with these paintings. Newman himself said, “We do not need the obsolete props of an outmoded and antiquated legend.” Instead he insisted that modern artists and believers ought to make cathedrals “out of ourselves, out of our own feelings.” 

Newman’s abstract development of the Stations of the Cross recognizes the evils of idolatry. It was never his intention for his viewers to see a literal representation of Christ that could then be worshiped. He encouraged his viewers to draw their own conclusions and make their own emotional connections unhindered by the blatant portrayals of violence or sorrow so often seen in renderings of the crucifixion.

Newman’s work resisted idle religious generalization in favor of the visceral and instinctual. The austerity of Newman’s series accomplishes just that. The violent zips on the canvas reflected the woundedness and brokenness of Jesus’ physical body. His work reminds me of the way we can know something is there without fully being able to describe it. To me, that’s what faith is. That’s what you’ve taught me faith is. 

So. I hope that after that explanation, you understand why I love this painting. I hope you love it too. I encourage you to look at all of these painting in succession. I encourage you to momentarily trade your world of logic and rationality for a world of the vague and emotional. 

Thank you for your faith in Christ and your faith in me. I love you.

At last, the end of our senior year is just around the corner. Where all of us would soon split apart to live the life as an independent beings. We grew up in this school like siblings, caring and supporting each other. We shared generous amount of memes, hatred, laughter, and creating unforgettable memories that will forever last. There will be a feeling of emptiness after the ceremonies, but that  feeling exists so that you can make more new memories with the people you love in the near future.

I wish spent my time more wisely at this moment because as time goes by I feel more emotional to leave this place... I remember telling my 14-year=old self how time should go faster just because school was just a daily burden and a place to kill time. When really I shouldn't have complained and just treasured each moments of spending time with you all.

There will be tears and broken hearts on the last day of our high school year; but like an astronaut, we will float and wonder about what's ahead of us as we unfold our future little by little. I thank you for these precious memories that I will treasure and probably will laugh about before going to bed. I thank you for all the warm and fuzzy feelings of happiness you guys have given me. I thank you for  the grade dramas, chitchat sessions, and just pure confusion. Finally, I thank you all for all the numerous hugs for the past years and making me feel special for being myself. Since we have few more months left together (or more), I hope to build more unforgettable memories with you all.

Sincerely,

Nayoung 

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving, love ya guys.

Editor's Note: Students were asked to give a painting to someone they cared for. These are their moving responses.