APAH Study Guide #23 Neoclassicism
Neolclassicism- 1780’s through c. 1810’s
Ch. 29 p.766-74
France……………Europe……………..America
HISTORY: late 18th Century Europe:
1789 French revolution begins with the First French republic from 1792-94.
1795
Rise of napoleon (emperor in 1804) and defeated at Waterloo in 1815, exiled to Alba.
1830
July Revolution and overthrow of Bourbon monarchy. Louis Philippe reigns as constitutional monarch.
1848
February Revolution – overthrow of Philippe’s government. Louis napoleon elected as emperor in
1853 and reigns as Napoleon III.
1871
Napoleon II abdicates at end of Franco-Prussian War (France loses) and the Third Republic is
proclaimed.
CONTEXT:
1. Neoclassicism is a reaction against Rococo art:
2.
Neolclassicism is a logical conclusion to 18th
century Naturalism:
3.
Neoclassicism is an expression of The
Enlightenment (The Age of Reason) (Rousseau,
Locke, Diderot, Voltaire):
4.
Revival of interest in Ancient Greece and Rome:
5.
The French revolution adopts Neoclassicism
and…
Rejection of art whose function was primarily to
please, was considered decorative, escapist,
romanticization of reality, bucolic, pastoral, fantasy.
Expresses anew sensibility in art which reflects new
thinking in France of middle class people: the nobility
of work and the simple life (Rousseau); reason and
moral integrity (not hedonism and luxury (Voltaire);
and edification/content (not escapism/fantasy
(Diderot).
Thinking about the world, independent of religion,
myth or tradition.
Mankind can only find truth using rational thought
and evidence to support it-Doctrine of Empiricism
forms the philosophical basis of Neoclassicism.
New discoveries of antiquity, Herculaneum,
Paestum, Pompeii; Piranesi’s prints of ancient
Paestum.
The Greek ideal of liberty and democracy in the light
of reason and in reaction to the repressive monarchy
(man is born free and is everywhere in chains)
propaganda- Painitng was used to promote
revolutionary ideals and the highest virtues of the
revolution.
APAH Study Guide #23 Neoclassicism
6.
Napoleon adopts Neoclassicism:
Neoclassicism works of art:
Painting:
David
Oath of Horatii 1784
Oath of the Tennis Courts 1789
Coronation of Napoleon 1805
Ingres
Grande Odalisque 1814
Gros
Napoleon at the Pest House at
Jaffa 1804
Kaufmann
Cornelia Presenting Her Children as
Her Treasures 1785
Sculpture: Canova, Pauline Borghese as Venus, 1808
Architecture:
Soufflot
Vignon
Jefferson
Pantheon 1792
Le Madeleine, Paris 1807-42
Monticello 1806
Ch. 29 p.766-74
Painting and architecture serve political agenda as
propaganda.
Napoleon saw himself as the new “Caesar” of a new
empire, with Paris as the new Rome where
architectural programs promoted that grandiose
self-image and the glorification of napoleon in the
paintings.
The Death of Socrates 1787
Death of Marat 1793
Apotheosis of Homer 1827