His attachment to the motif of Brutus had been evident for years before this painting, at least since the early 1780s when he was making The Oath of the Horatii (1784). Its themes of virtue, sacrifice, and devotion to the nation sparked much controversy when it was unveiled in the politically charged era of the French Revolution.ĭavid labored over the painting for more than two years before he considered it complete. The painting was a bold allegory of civic virtue with immense resonance for the growing cause of republicanism. In doing so, Brutus became the heroic defender of the republic, at the cost of his own family. They had conspired to overthrow the republic and restore the monarchy, and Brutus himself was compelled to order their deaths. The subject is the Roman leader Lucius Junius Brutus, founder of the Roman Republic, contemplating the fate of his sons. On a canvas of 146 square feet, this painting was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1789. The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons ( French: Les licteurs rapportent à Brutus les corps de ses fils) is a work in oils by the French artist Jacques-Louis David.
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