Dr. Tulp's Anatomy Lesson

Rembrandt

Dissections were something of a theatrical event during this time. Hence the interest plainly shown on the faces of the spectators. The muscular structure of the arm was focused on in this painting.

The Goldweigher (Woman Holding a Balance)

Jan (Johannes) Vermeer

The woman stands between a depiction of the Last Judgment hung in a heavy black frame, and a table covered with jewelry representing material possessions. The empty scale stresses that she is balancing spiritual rather than material considerations.

Portrait of Charles I at the Hunt

Anthony Van Dyck

English Period

Royal, Regal, ETC.

Showed good blending of man, animal, and landscape

The Swing

Jean Honore Fragonard

rococo era

The painting depicts a young man hidden in the bushes, watching a woman on a swing, being pushed by a bishop. As the lady goes high on the swing, she lets him take a furtive peep under her dress. As a symbol of the loss of virginity, the lady has let one of her shoes fly into the air.

Pilgrimage to Cythera

Jean-Antoine Watteau

rococo era

Many commentators note that it depicts a departure from the island of Cythera, the birthplace of Venus, thus symbolizing the brevity of love.

Marriage a la Mode: The Marriage Settlement

William Hogarth

Arranged marriage between bankrupt and wealthy

The Tennis Court Oath

Jacques-Louis David

The Oath signified the first time that French citizens formally stood in opposition to Louis XVI, and the refusal by members of the National Assembly to back down forced the king to make concessions. The Oath also inspired a wide variety of revolutionary activity in the months afterwards, ranging from rioting across the French countryside to renewed calls for a written French constitution.

Death of Socrates

Jacques-Louis David

It represents the scene of the death of Greek philosopher Socrates, condemned to die by drinking hemlock, for the expression of his ideas against those of Athens' and corrupting the minds of the youth. The painting also depicts both Plato and Crito, with the former sitting ruefully at the edge of the bed and the latter clutching the knee of Socrates. Socrates had the choice to go into exile (and hence give up his philosophic vocation) or be sentenced to death by drinking hemlock. Socrates chose death.