The Enlightenment (4/2)

In all of the portriats, not one of the subjects are smiling. They all have serious, stern, expressionless faces. Additionally, they all appear to be looking past or to the side of the viewer, but not directly at them. This gives them somewhat of an air of superiority. They are supposed to be "heros", and depicting these leaders with smiles would make them appear weak and laughable. For Marat's, portriat, he appears dead. Most likely, the artist was trying to make him into a martyr, and to give the French something to fight for. As for the others, they are depicted very elegantly, yet all with weapons, showing that they are a force to be reckoned with. For future generations, this makes them seem like valiant leaders who themselves were involved in the battles. Revolutions do need heroes--someone to kick-start the whole process and to unite the people together. I think the artist is celebrating their actions. By painting them with weapons, the artist makes them all out to look like war heroes, thereby celebrating their heroic actions.