Summarize

- Catholicism in France

Catholicism was once the state religion of France and continues to be the primary religion in French society. Throughout most of the country, communities began as parishes. Today, many rural villages see the local church building as a symbol of local identity. Catholicism continues to play a notable role in French society. The church bell rings to mark deaths and weddings. Many people have their infants baptised and most private education in France is Roman Catholic.

Many Catholics feel as though the church helps uphold traditional family values, authority and a sense of moral order in society. However, given the prevalence of lacit in French society, many prefer to practise their religious faith outside of religious institutions. Only a minority of those who identify as Catholic regularly attend and participate in communal religious worship.

- Islam in France

Islam is thought to be the second largest religion in France, following Catholicism. The greatest number of Muslims immigrated to France in the 1950s to 1960s during the decolonisation period. Many of these migrants came from the Maghreb (northwest Africa) - namely Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. Today, France has one of the largest Muslim populations in the European Union. For those who migrated to France, many feel Islam is a part of their personal identity and culture. Indeed, many of the younger generation of Muslims often embrace Islam as a cultural identity.

- Judaism in France

France also has the largest Jewish community in the European Union. The events of World War II had a significant impact on the Jewish community in France. It took numerous decades for the country to recover. In contemporary France, the Jewish community continues to pay homage to their spiritual and religious heritage through passing on traditions and knowledge from generation to generation within their family.

"France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic, guaranteeing that all citizens regardless of their origin, race or religion are treated as equals before the law and respecting all religious beliefs" states the Constitution of 1958. The "freedom to practice religion" has been recognised since 1905 when the Law on the Separation of the Church and State (la loi sur la sparation de l'glise et de l'tat) came into effect. Far from being a weapon against religion, this text returned all religions to the private sector and established state secularism in the public sphere. The French State does not favour any one religion and guarantees their peaceful co-existence in respect of the laws and principles of the Republic.

In application of the secular principle, the law of 15 March 2004 prohibits all clothing or other attire displaying religious worship to be worn in schools.

Aesthetics

The artistic trends and shifts that characterized the French salons from the time of the revolution until the end of Napoleon's reign in 1815 mirrored the political climate of France through the revolution and as it shifted to the grandiose and imperialistic empire of Napoleon I. Art began to look back to classical antiquity, invoking its balanced, serious, and academic style as a means to express contemporary social and political sentiment in France. The subjects chosen were a source of propaganda and reflected the political climate of the time, instilling revolutionary ideals in the people. Historical scenes such as David's Oath of the Horatii and Death of Socrates served as metaphors for what was going on in contemporary France. Artists even painted contemporary events to serve as a source of propaganda for the revolution, such as David's Death of Marat.

As Napoleon rose to power and created his empire the artistic climate shifted from tools of revolutionary propaganda to imperial propaganda, glorifying the empire and Napoleon as its leader. Still classical in style it shifted to from Rome of the Republic to an Imperialistic Rome. The paintings were still highly detailed, idealized, and balanced but now with much more grandiose themes. Rather than focusing on the metaphors and moralizing messages of history painting, the subjects were contemporary, showing Napoleon and his endeavors as an extension of of classical antiquity, the basis of western society. Paintings were monumental in scale and on view for the public, often showing military and battle scenes to glorify Napoleon's conquests. Exotic subjects and settings also became popular to show the vast extent of the empire.

The constantly changing political tides during this period made it a tumultuous time for artists and they could easily lose work or even be exiled. Jacques-Louis David was a huge supporter of the revolution and a close friend of Robespierre. He was imprisoned when the war shifted the reign of terror ended. He was lucky to escape the guillotine and was eventually released from prison, becoming a painter for Emperor Napoleon during his reign. However, his paintings that glorified the empire came at a price and when tides shifted yet again and Napoleon fell from power, David was exiled as a supporter of the revolution and of Napoleon's regime.