Death of Viala 

Pierre-Paul Prud'hon created this oil on canvas painting entitled, Death of Viala. Prud'hon's mastery of oil paint is evident in the way he manipulates light and shadow to create a sense of drama and pathos. The smooth, almost porcelain-like finish of the figure contrasts with the rough texture of the background, drawing the viewer's eye to the tragic subject. This is a perfect example of the academic method of painting, where a highly refined technique is employed to represent the human form in idealized terms. However, the painting also raises questions about the social context in which it was created. The French Revolution was a time of great upheaval and violence. The story is that Viala, a young revolutionary soldier, was killed trying to cut the ropes of a pontoon bridge, as he tried to prevent royalist counter-revolutionaries from crossing the Rhône. But this historical moment is aestheticized in an intimate and sensual, yet undeniably tragic, way. This highly-finished painting, presented as high art, can also be seen as a carefully crafted object that reflects the complex social and political forces at play in the late 18th century.