Gotham: 19 Easter Eggs, In-Jokes And References You Totally Missed
4. The Painting In Wayne Manor Is Apposite
Wayne Manor isn't the ideal locale to be raising a troubled, orphaned young man. It's huge, there's apparently an easily accessible and very high roof, and then there's the huge system of caves underneath for him to get lost in. Factor in all those displays of medieval armour wielding real swords and it's a wonder Bruce Wayne makes it to adulthood. That's before you even get onto the gruesome paintings Bruce's parents saw fit to decorate the family home with. Amongst those is Le Serment des Horaces, or Oath of the Horatii, by French artist Jacques-Louis David, painted in 1794. It shows a scene from Roman legend of the importance of masculine self-sacrifice for one's country. The piece depicts three brothers, all but one of whom sacrifices his life for the good of Rome, saluting their father who holds their swords out for them. If the Batman mythos is about anything, it's masculine self-sacrifice for the greater good. Apposite painting, then. Bonus Easter Egg: Gotham writer Bruno Heller's last big show? Rome.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
