Oath of the Horatii (Le Serment des Horaces), 1784 painting, by the French artist Jacques-Louis David. Louvre in Paris. Neoclassical style. It depicts a scene from a Roman legend about a dispute between two warring cities, Rome and Alba Longa, and stresses the importance of patriotism and masculine self-sacrifice for one's country. Instead of the two cities sending their armies to war, they agree to choose three men from each city; the victor in that fight will be the victorious city.