Descrição
This paper proposes an interpretation of Mars desarmed from Venus and the Graces, Jacques-Louis David's last painting, done during his exile in Brussels, between 1822 and 1824. This painting breaks in a particular way with the new-classical canons, which David founded together with others artists and whom he was one of the most important representative. Therefore, the painting's reception was and is yet very complex and contradictory. Parting from the description of the painting and considering its history of reception, this article aims to show that this work expresses in a quite consequent manner David's position concerning the aesthetical debate of his time and the political situation in Europe during Bourbon's Restoration. The method used for the present interpretation was inspired by Walter Benjamin's figural conception of history, that, however, cannot be discussed in details here.||O presente artigo propõe uma leitura interpretativa do quadro Marte desarmado por Vênus e pelas Graças, de Jacques Louis David. Esta obra rompe de modo peculiar com os cânones da estética neo-classicista. Por isso, teve e ainda tem uma recepção complexa e contraditória. Este artigo buscará mostrar que o quadro manifesta de modo consequente a posição de David tanto em relação ao debate estético da época, quanto à situação política na Europa no período da Restauração. O método que orienta a presente leitura inspira-se na concepção figurativa da história de Walter Benjamin.
