Final answer:
Patrick's 'promise' likely refers to themes of courage, sacrifice, and loyalty, related to Horatii's oath in Jacques-Louis David's painting 'Oath of the Horatii'. This painting represented a call to revolutionary action and could be paralleled with any vow Patrick makes to David.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patrick's "promise" to David in this context could be interpreted through the allegorical narrative depicted by Jacques-Louis David in his 1784 painting, the Oath of the Horatii. While the question does not provide specific details about the characters named Patrick and David, one can infer that the reference to a promise and the subsequent descriptions relate to themes of courage, sacrifice, and perhaps loyalty or oath-taking, as exemplified by the Horatii who swore to defeat their enemies or die for their city.
In the painting, which is a depiction of a scene from Roman history, the Horatii brothers take an oath before their father, promising to fight for their city. The painting by David became symbolic of the revolutionary spirit, as it was seen as an encouragement to find contemporary revolutionary martyrs to replace traditional religious figures. If Patrick is indeed making a promise to David, it might be akin to the solemn vow of the Horatii to sacrifice everything for a greater cause.