Neo-classic Era Basics
 Neo=new
 “Age of Reason” – intellectual movement – ideas of
Greece and Rome were inspiration
 Marked by rationality, ethics, aesthetics, and
knowledge
 Get away from superstition (magic), irrationality, and
tyranny of dark ages
 Enlightenment – framework for American and French
revolution
Continued
 Birth of capitalism, socialism, liberalism, and fascism
 Arts important way of spreading knowledge and
serving the state’s needs
 State created arts academies – served the state’s needs
and ideas – created qualifications and diplomas –
propaganda
 Women recognized in the arts for first time
 Public museums and art galleries created –
propaganda
Thomas Jefferson
 Promoted Neo-Palladian style architect
(Andrea Palladio – principles of classic
Roman architecture)
 Monticello
 Capitol Building
Monticello
Capitol Building
Neoclassicism in visual art
 Get away from Baroque
 Purity of Roman art/idealism of Greek art
 Sharp colors
 Clean lines (no Sfumato)
 Chiaroscuro (less though)
 Use of perspective
 Look of artificial light, almost like the theatre
Jacques-Louis David
 French
 Inspired by Greeks and
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Romans
Many works were based on
ancient history/mythology
Official artist of the French
revolution/Napoleon’s court
Painted many portraits of
revolutionary leaders
Served time in jail for
participation in “The Terror”
Later exiled (Louis XVIII)
The Classical Music Period
(1720-1830)
Classical Music
• Polyphony replaced by homophonic music
(melody supported by system of harmony)
• Movement centered in/around Vienna
• Begins in 1750’s and 60’s
• Reached maturity in 70’s and 80’s – around
the time of the American & French
revolutions
Mozart
• First symphony (musical work made up of 4
movements separated by silence) at age 8
• Amadeus means “loved by God”
• Austrian Emperor Joseph II accused his music
of “too many notes”
• Spread his reputation in Vienna by
publishing, playing the piano and having an
opera performed in 1782
Mozart
• Composed 15 piano concertos (composition for
an orchestra and soloist) by 1786
• Served as composer and soloist in his works
• Unable to finish his Requiem
• Possible causes of death – Flu, Mercury
poisoning (medicine), Kidney illness, Rheumatic
fever
• Buried in a Vienna suburb with little ceremony
and in an unmarked grave (even the second one
he was buried in)
Haydn
• Trained as a choirboy and taken to St. Stephen’s
Cathedral, Vienna, in mid 1700’s
• Became freelance musician and accompanist
• Played violin and keyboard
• Wrote sacred music, music for theatre comedies, and
chamber music
• Seen as the “father of the symphony and string
quartet” – did not originate them
• At his funeral in 1809 Mozart’s Requiem was
performed
Beethoven
• Exact date of birth unknown (likely
12/16/1770)
• Father gave instruction in piano, violin, and
viola
• First public concert was on March 26, 1778 at
age 7 (same day as his death 49 years later)
• 1802 – found out his impaired hearing was
incurable and would worsen
Beethoven
• Became very productive despite hearing
impairment
• Aristocracy of Vienna supported him generously
and were tolerant of his rude & insensitive
manners, careless appearance, and towering
rages
• From end of 1790’s, he was no longer dependent
on patronage for income
• Sometimes took several years to refine an idea
before satisfied
Beethoven
• Ideas usually written in sketchbooks which he
constantly carried
• Death in 1827 – said that 10,000 people were at
his funeral
• Became public figure before death – unlike any
musicians before
• Bridged classical of Mozart and Haydn with
Romantic period that followed
Moliere and Swift
Making fun of current events or social
structures through irony, sarcasm and
wit
 Makes fun of moral and social views
 “Tongue-in-cheek” humor
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French actor and playwright
Master of Satire
Dance and drama were very important to the
French aristocracy/helped him promote his
art
Established his own acting troupe in the court
of Louis XIV (1660)
Also used physical humor inspired by
Commedia dell’arte
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Used 5 act development as seen in Greek and
Renaissance (Shakespeare)
Superstition – he collapsed during a
presentation of The Imaginary Invalid and
died later in his home – was wearing yellow
on stage – seen as bad luck by some actors to
wear yellow costumes on stage
Summary
 Write a 5-6 sentence summary for Neo-Classical Art