Liberator Heroes

All of the portraits have some reference to war or fighting, either through weapons or through blood. This shows that the leaders are willing to fight for what they believe in, or die trying. Also, all of the portraits include some literary content. This is included to contrast the fighting bit; although the leaders can fight, they are also scholars. This is important to win the hearts of the civilians: no one wants an idiot ruler. In all of the portraits besides the one of Marat portray their respective hero as standing. This is because a man standing seems much more ready and intimidating than a man who is sitting.

The artists portray the heroes in this way in order to build respect for these heroes, and also to inspire future generations. If these heroes just liberated a state from an oppressive government, they must not appear oppressive or unwelcoming to the citizens who they just liberated. Also, these portraits are made to inspire future generations. If a revolution is ever required again, rebels will look to past revolutionaries. This will inspire them. For example, if you want to be an astronaut, and you see an awesome portrait of an astronaut, you will be inspired even further.

Revolutions need heroic figures for a few reasons. For one, people need to be inspired to revolt, and these leaders provide a face for the ideals that these rebels fight for. Also, it makes the revolution seem more intimidating to enemies. When they are alive, heroic figures provide moral to rebels. When they die, heroic figures act as a martyr for their cause. This puts their enemies in a jam, as a heroic figure can be just as dangerous dead as alive. I believe that the figures are being celebrated for their ideals and persons in combinations. This is because ideals and persons become one in the same for heroic figures: their person becomes synonymous with their ideals.