Liberator Heroes

Washington, Marat, Toussaint, and Bolivar are all known as heroes for a country's revolution, and rightly so. They all fought valiantly for their own country's freedom.

In the PowerPoint portraits, all the heroes are uniquely depicted. However, what they have in common is they are depicted in a position that shows their power. Washington is shown standing amongst books and making a friendly gesture, showing wisdom and power. Marat is shown at the moment of his death, which perpetuates him as a martyr. Toussaint is seen holding what is assumed to be a declaration of independence and a sword, showing him as a fighter and peace maker. Finally Bolivar is also shown holding a sword, again perpetuating his fighting prowess.
It is important that these images convey power because it solidifies their heroic status.

The artists in question obviously wanted these figures to be remembered as heroic. If not, they were at least paid to do so. They allow future generations, by purely looking at one picture, to understand that the subject of the picture was powerful; they allow future generations to be able to sit, look, and think, "this man did something important."

Revolutions need heros to confirm that the revolutionaries are not the villains. What makes them heroic can vary. Usually however, in the instance of Washington, Toussaint, and Bolivar, heroes lead armies to victory. Heroes demonstrate leadership as well as fierceness. Marat is a rare circumstance. He fought with his words and was brutally murdered for it. However, he also demonsrated leadership in supporting the revolutionaries. He is a hero, for dying. Aft his death he was seen as a symbol of the importance of the revolution. That made him a hero.