[CHP. 19‐ NEOCLASSICISM: THE LATE 18TH CENTURY & EARLY 19TH CENTURY]
P A G E | 1 Neoclassicism 1780­1820 •
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Reaction against frivolity of Rococo Reason, moral responsibility, democratic equality, freedom Rivival of Graeco‐Roman art and ideals Calm, rational, inpsiring Paintings were linear, had smooth surface showing no brushstrokes De‐emphasized backgrounds France •
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artistic style associated with the French Revolution renewed interest in Classical ideas and ideals reflected honor, order, stability used by Napoleon to associate himself with Roman Emperors More serious in its nature, a reaction against Rococo and the morals of Louis XV Jean‐Jacques Rousseau and Denis Diderot both spoke of a need for art that contains a "moralizing" message. Rousseau was also famous for his "noble savage" treatise. The Neoclassical style is, as its name imples, a frank emulation of Greco‐Roman culture. As an artistic style, it expresses a certain reserved austerity that is ironically based largely upon mistaken interpretation of what classical art looked like. (As pointed out earlier, most Greek sculpture was painted, not left in the pristine whiteness of natural stone, an accident caused by weathering of the marble over the centuries, which later sculptors emulated.) Not all neoclassical works met with the same degree of success. The premier French neoclassical painter Jacques Louis David won acclaim for his paintings of salient episodes of patriotism drawn from ancient Roman history, but Horatio Greenough's monumental marble sculpture (1832‐1841) of George Washington wearing a toga and swearing an oath upon a Roman sword (Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C.) now looks simply incongruous. The Neoclassical style in America finds its best expression in architecture in Thomas Jefferson's designs for his country estate Monticello (1770‐1806, Charlottesville, VA) and the Rotunda at the University of Virginia (1819‐1826, Charlottesville). Both emulate the Roman PANTHEON but with a distinctly colonial accent. Similarly, French architect Pierre‐Alexandre Vignon's Greek templelike LA MADELEINE, a church dedicated by Napoleon to his troops, is unmistakably a reincarnation of the Athenian PARTHENON with three domes added, visible only from the interior. Other significant neoclassical masters include: Neoclassicism •
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Reaction against frivolity of Rococo Reason, moral responsibility, democratic equality, freedom Rivival of Graeco‐Roman art and ideals Calm, rational, inpsiring Paintings were linear, had smooth surface showing no brushstrokes De‐emphasized backgrounds And it was, to a great degree, a reaction against the frivolity and superficiality of the 18th century Rococo style Neoclassicism championed “reason and moral responsibility” in art, in literature, and in philosophy The late 1700s were a time of revolution •
Industrial Revolution (1760, Britain) •
American Revolution (1775) •
French Revolution (1789) And revolutions proposed new principles of reason and democratically equality Prototype of these new virtues and freedoms were found in the heroic models of ancient Greek and Roman ideals‐ which were extremely popular during this era due to a kind of archaeological mania that was sweeping Europe As a revival of Greco‐Roman art, Neoclassicism valued order and solemnity It was art that was calm and rational, appealing to the intellect by stressing drawing with lines while downplaying color. [CHP. 19‐ NEOCLASSICISM: THE LATE 18TH CENTURY & EARLY 19TH CENTURY]
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Neoclassical artists left no trace of brushstrokes in their work, smoothing the surface o f their paintings until they appeared polished, quite different from the feathery brushwork of the Rococo artists. Neoclassical compositions were simple, and often used Greek and Roman history and mythology as their subject matter Neoclassical artist insisted that their art be inspirational and morally uplifting Part ­­: Unit Exam Essay Questions •
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Compare the Romantic movement with Neoclassicism. How are they similar? What are the differences? (Rubenistes or Poussinistes?) Using your text, study these two paintings and the artists who created them:
1. The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus
Peter Paul Rubens
1617
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The Burial of Phocion
Nicolas Poussin
1648
Choose the painting you like most. Analyze it in terms of subject, technique, and space. Be prepared to discuss how you
made your choice. Must be written in essay form—not just an outline. Should be approximately 250–300 words.
Using examples from the text, compare Rococo and Neoclassical style. Consider context, iconography, and formal elements. Explain the political context of Neoclassicism. How did it develop, and how is it reflected in the art of the period? Using examples in the text, compare and contrast the paintings of Ingres and David. Describe Jefferson's contribution to American architecture. Discuss the sources that inspired Jeffersonian architecture. Chapter Outline NEOCLASSICISM: THE LATE 18th AND EARLY 19th CENTURIES Revolutionary fervor in France Napoleon becomes emperor of France (1804) Imperial patronage: Arc de Triomphe; Vendôme column Battle of Waterloo (1815) Painters in France: David; Benoist; Ingres Sculptors in France: Canova; Houdon United States Constitution (1787) American artists: Trumbull; Greenough •
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Thomas Jefferson (architect and statesman): Third U.S. president Federal style: Richmond, Virginia, Capitol building; Monticello; University of Virginia Summary and Study Guide Key Terms metope philosophes Napoleon Bonaparte (1769‐1821) portico Thoughts on the Imitation of Greek Art in Painting and salon fête galante History of Ancient Art by Johann Joachim Winckelmann Poussinistes satyr terracotta triglyph Enlightenment the Grand Tour (1764) Industrial Revolution Romanticism age of revolutions (American, French, and Greek) [CHP. 19‐ NEOCLASSICISM: THE LATE 18TH CENTURY & EARLY 19TH CENTURY]
P A G E | 3 Rubénistes the Salon Crenellation Neoclassicism Madame de Pompadour Delacroix’s trip to North Africa and journals the great rivals: Ingres vs. Delacroix excavations at Herculaneum (begun in 1738) and Pompeii Hudson River School (begun in 1748) Prix de Rome Other topics to consider: Explain the political context of Neoclassicism. How did it develop, and how is it reflected in the art of the period? Describe Jefferson's contribution to American architecture. Discuss the sources of Jeffersonian architecture.