Jean-Paul Marat, a French politician, physician, and journalist, tragically met his end in his bathroom on July 13, 1793, when he was murdered. This story unveils two victims who ironically fell for the same cause at the hands of the same person, Charlotte de Corday.
So, what led to this tragic conclusion? What caused the poetic death of Marat, which became the subject of various artworks and a political propaganda tool even at his funeral?
Jean Paul Marat
Jean-Paul Marat, a central figure of the French Revolution, has become an enduring symbol of radical change and social justice in art. Born in 1743, Marat’s activism and journalism made him a prominent advocate for ordinary people during this turbulent period.
During the revolution, Marat sought refuge in a sewer while fleeing soldiers, leading to him contracting a skin disease. Enduring constant fever and agonizing rashes, he tried to alleviate the itching by immersing himself in water and wrapping cloth soaked in vinegar around his head. His illness prevented him from attending Congress for weeks and limited his newspaper writings, forcing him to continue his work at home, often leaning against the bathtub. Despite his suffering, Marat remained one of the most renowned revolutionaries of 18th-century France, advocating for the rights of low-income people through his newspaper, “L’Ami Du Peuple” (The Friend of the People).
On July 13, 1793, Marat was fatally stabbed by Charlotte Corday while secluded in his bath, correcting the first prints of newspaper articles. His death marked him as a martyr of the French Revolution, with Jacques Louis David transforming his funeral into a grand spectacle for political ends. Marat’s body, displaying Corday’s fatal wounds, was exhibited in an old church, and his funeral procession culminated with cannon shots fired at five-minute intervals, immortalizing him as a victim of Charlotte Corday and elevating him to the status of a revolutionary saint.
Marie Anne Chalotte de Corday D’Armont
Corday felt the absence, loss, and suffering deeply in her life from an early age, growing up as a child of an aristocratic but impoverished family in rural Normandy. Her education in colleges and monasteries before 1789 constituted a stark departure from Christian and monarchical society. In this education, heroes who dedicated themselves to punishing tyrants and pagan women were glorified, and a punishment and reward system promised an artificial paradise. Thus, revolutionary ideas began to take root in Corday’s mind. Reading Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Raynal, and Pierre Corneille solidified these ideas, deepening her sense of patriotism and ultimately leading her to sacrifice herself and Marat for their cause.
The notion that execution would be carried out by guillotine in 1790s France placed Corday far from being a gentlewoman. Shearing’s words shed light on her compelling life that shaped her strong character. “Corday witnessed her mother’s death in childbirth at a young age, the midwife’s haste, the solemnity of the funeral preparations, the cradle, and the funeral procession. She saw her mother’s exhausted face collapse from worry and fatigue into a stony mask, heard the newborn’s cries turn to continuous silence, and observed the useless, almost guilty sorrow of her impoverished father. Her shy, semi-conscious youth was shocked; her hidden spirit was drawn further into the sacred realms inhabited by ghostly heroes and heroines.”
The Corday family was impoverished by aristocratic oppression, yet a wealthy monastery raised Charlotte herself. Engaged by a nobleman, her fiancé supported the royal cause, while she supported the bourgeois revolution. Her fiancé proposed they elope, but Charlotte refused. Patriotism, though not her sole motivation, was certainly one of her passionate advocacies. Corday expressed that the freedom of the motherland was more important than her personal happiness. Due to the sharpness of her ideas and her attendance at certain meetings, she was exiled and separated from her family, and both her fiancé and brother were executed. Like Marat, she believed that the majority of Congress, composed of moderates, oppressed the radicals. Several moderate congress members fled to Caen, where they organized a rebellion, but when they called for fighting against the Congress, only seven people showed up. In response, Corday shouted, “Surely we cannot survive four years, allowing a man like Marat to dominate France; agitators and vagabonds have been allowed to mix personal ambitions with the welfare of the people for too long” (Hagen, 2010). Convinced that the only solution to all these events was the death of men like Marat, she planned the murder and killed Marat while he was working in his bath. After the murder, Corday, during her interrogation, stated, “Seeing that civil war would break out all over France and being sure that Marat was the main culprit behind these misfortunes, I decided to sacrifice my own life to save my country” (Alstine, 1890).
Immediately after the murder, she was apprehended at Marat’s house and sentenced to death by guillotine after her trial.
in Art
The tragic and poetic nature of Marat’s death scene inspired many works of art. Through these diverse representations, Marat’s image lives on as a powerful symbol of revolution and the pursuit of equality.
At the forefront of these representations stands Jacques-Louis David’s monumental painting, “The Death of Marat.” Completed in 1793, just months after Marat’s assassination, David’s work immortalizes the revolutionary leader in a pose reminiscent of a classical martyr. Marat is depicted slumped over in his bathtub, his life extinguished by the blade of Charlotte Corday. With a letter in hand and a pen falling to the floor, Marat’s expression exudes a sense of serene determination, his commitment to the cause undeterred even in death. David’s meticulous attention to detail and masterful use of light and shadow imbue the scene with a sense of solemnity and reverence, elevating Marat to the status of a revolutionary martyr.
Guillaume-Joseph Roque’s painting of Marat captures the intensity and solemnity of the revolutionary leader’s final moments. In Roque’s depiction, Marat is shown in his iconic bathtub, his lifeless body slumped forward, bathed in a soft, ethereal light. The scene is imbued with a sense of quiet reverence, as if time has stood still to honor the fallen martyr. Roque’s attention to detail and his ability to convey emotion through subtle gestures and expressions make this painting a powerful tribute to Marat’s enduring legacy as a symbol of revolution and social justice. Through Roque’s brushstrokes, Marat’s tragic demise is transformed into a timeless work of art that continues to captivate and inspire viewers to this day.
Jean-Joseph Weerts’ painting of Marat offers a poignant and dramatic portrayal of the revolutionary leader’s assassination. In Weerts’ interpretation, Marat is depicted in his bath, clutching the fatal letter delivered by his assassin, Charlotte Corday. The scene is rendered with a sense of urgency and turmoil, as Marat’s life hangs in the balance. Weerts skillfully captures the tension and emotion of the moment, with Marat’s face contorted in pain and determination. The composition is striking, with bold contrasts of light and shadow heightening the drama of the scene. Through his masterful brushwork and emotive storytelling, Weerts brings Marat’s tragic end to life, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of revolution and the price of political dissent.
Beyond the realm of painting, artists have also explored Marat’s death through sculpture and literature. Paul-Jacques-Aimé Baudry’s sculpture “Charlotte Corday” captures the defiant spirit of Marat’s assassin, her calm and resolute demeanor immortalized in stone, offers a more nuanced portrayal of the assassination’s aftermath, capturing the event’s chaos and tragedy with sensitivity and depth.
Jules-Charles Aviat’s painting of Marat presents a vivid and emotive portrayal of the revolutionary leader’s final moments. In Aviat’s rendition, Marat is depicted with a haunting intensity, his pale figure illuminated against the darkness of his surroundings. The scene exudes a sense of quiet solemnity, as Marat’s gaze is fixed on a distant point, perhaps contemplating the turmoil of the revolution or the weight of his own mortality. Aviat’s use of chiaroscuro and subtle brushwork creates a sense of depth and atmosphere, drawing the viewer into the intimate space of Marat’s bath. Through his evocative depiction, Aviat captures the tragic essence of Marat’s death, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of power, ideology, and sacrifice during this tumultuous period in history.
Arturo Michelena’s painting of Marat offers a poignant and thought-provoking interpretation of the revolutionary leader’s demise. In Michelena’s portrayal, Marat is depicted with a striking blend of vulnerability and resolve, his pale figure bathed in a soft, ethereal light. The scene exudes a sense of quiet dignity, as Marat’s gaze is directed outward, perhaps contemplating the turbulent events of his time or the legacy he leaves behind. Michelena’s meticulous attention to detail and masterful use of color and composition create a sense of intimacy and immediacy, drawing the viewer into the emotional gravity of the moment. Through his evocative depiction, Michelena captures the tragic humanity of Marat’s death, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of revolution, power, and sacrifice.
Pablo Picasso’s painting of Marat presents a dynamic and unconventional interpretation of the revolutionary figure’s demise. In Picasso’s distinctive style, Marat’s form is fragmented and distorted, reflecting the chaos and turmoil of the French Revolution. The scene is rendered with bold strokes and vibrant colors, imbuing the painting with a sense of energy and movement. Marat’s iconic bathtub is depicted with angular lines and sharp angles, adding to the sense of dissonance and unease. Through his avant-garde approach, Picasso challenges traditional notions of representation and invites viewers to reconsider the mythos surrounding Marat and his place in history. The painting serves as a powerful commentary on the complexities of revolution and the human cost of political upheaval, while also showcasing Picasso’s innovative artistic vision.
Edward Munch’s painting of Marat offers a haunting and introspective portrayal of the revolutionary leader’s final moments. In Munch’s interpretation, Marat is depicted with a sense of anguish and despair, his pale figure set against a dark and brooding backdrop. The scene exudes a sense of existential dread, as Marat’s expression conveys the weight of his own mortality and the futility of his revolutionary ideals. Munch’s use of bold brushstrokes and emotive color palette creates a sense of emotional intensity, drawing the viewer into the inner turmoil of Marat’s psyche. Through his evocative depiction, Munch captures the universal themes of suffering, isolation, and existential angst, inviting viewers to confront the darker aspects of the human condition.
In examining these diverse artistic representations of Marat’s demise, it becomes clear that each artist brings their own unique perspective to bear on this seminal moment in history. Through their work, they invite us to reflect on the complexities and consequences of political violence while also paying homage to the enduring legacy of one of the French Revolution’s most enigmatic figures.
