We explain what neoclassical art is and its main characteristics. In addition, we explain its origin, its manifestation in various disciplines and more.
Neoclassical art coincides with the beginning of the Contemporary Age.
What is neoclassical art?
Neoclassical art It is a movement that emerged in France in 1760.which influenced painting and other visual arts. Its heyday was around 1785 and was characterized by reflecting the thinking of the enlightened intellectuals (a movement that supported the use of reason to acquire knowledge) and It was based on Greco-Roman culture that stood out for being intellectual and refined.
Neoclassicism opposed the Baroque style (1600-1750) which was characterized by a gloomy, excessively decorated and vain aesthetic, to represent the passions and emotions of the individual.
Neoclassical art, influenced by the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, left emotions aside to express through reason both moral values, freedom and patriotism like social progress based on new industries and scientific discoveries.
Around 1800, Neoclassicism was displaced by the new current of Romanticism, which was characterized by exalting freedom, emotions and the subjectivity of the individuality of the being, in rejection of the predominance of the enlightened reason of Neoclassicism.
See also: Classicism
Characteristics of neoclassical art
Among the main characteristics of neoclassical art are:
- It arose in reaction to the baroque style which predominated in the 1720s and was sensual, superficial and based on passions.
- It was founded on ideals related to morality of ancient Greco-Roman culture.
- It reflected the reality of a society in full transformation driven by the Industrial Revolution and scientific discoveries.
- He spoke out on principles of simplicity, symmetry and geometry.
- It achieved great diffusion with the phenomenon of the Grand Tour which consisted of a student trip to archaeological sites in Europe for young people from the aristocracy.
- It consisted of an objective and realistic art who, through the use of reason, could understand the progress of society throughout history.
- He replaced religious ideas by the use of enlightened reason.
- It required rigorous intellectual training by neoclassical artists.
Context of neoclassical art
Neoclassicism was influenced by the archaeological discoveries of Rome.
Neoclassical art originated in France during a period of great political and social revolutions, and coincided with the beginning of the Contemporary Age. Among the main events of the time are: the philosophical movement of the Enlightenment, especially with the creation of The encyclopedia (1751), the Declaration of Independence of the United States (1776) and the French Revolution (1789).
Neoclassicism was greatly influenced by archaeological discoveries in ancient Roman citiessuch as the excavations in the cities of Herculaneum in 1738 and Pompeii in 1748. Enlightened thinkers and researchers were fascinated with the aesthetics of the ancient culture.
The new archaeological knowledge obtained through the excavations made it possible, for the first time, to identify different chronological periods related to Greco-Roman art and its evolution.
Neoclassical painting
Neoclassicist painting reflected features of Greco-Roman society.
Neoclassical painting reflected a social and political order based on reason and morality, over the emotions, feelings and irrationality that baroque art usually manifested. Situations related to the French Revolution and archaeological findings were highlighted. of Greco-Roman culture.
In neoclassical painting, uniform surfaces and backgrounds predominated, which were usually in the shadows in the background, with the characters who stood out for their use of light and light tones.
Neoclassical artists maintained the harmony of proportions and the use of shadows and lights to resemble the real vision of things. The simplified scenes had fewer ornaments and elements so that the characters stood out better.
Among the main representatives of neoclassical painting were:
- Anton Raphael Mengs (1728 – 1779). He was a German painter who stood out for his works Parnassus, Perseus and Andromeda, The Adoration of the Shepherds and The triumph of history over time.
- Francisco Bayeu (1734 – 1795). He was a Spanish painter who stood out for his works Olympus: Battle with Giants, The Walk of Delights, The Holy Family and The Madrid canal bridge.
- Jacques-Louis David (1748 – 1825). He was a French painter who stood out for his works The Oath of the Horatii, The Death of Socrates, The Death of Marat, Madame Récamier and Napoleon crossing the Alps.
- Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1780 – 1867). He was a French neoclassical and romantic painter who stood out for his works The Great Odalisque, Jupiter and Thetis, Napoleon Enthroned, Apotheosis of Homer and The bather of Valpinçon.
- Johann Heinrich Füssli (1741 – 1825). He was a Swiss historian, draftsman and painter known by the pseudonym Henry Fuseli who stood out for his works. The nightmare, The Shepherd’s Dream and Thor beating the Midgard serpent.
Neoclassical literature
Neoclassical literature was characterized by essays, novels and fables that They transmitted philosophical and moral concepts objectively and explained from reasonHe opposed the old system of religious thought that had a grandiloquent vision of things and the narrative that played with words to appeal to emotions.
Among the main representatives were:
- Daniel Defoe (1660 – 1731). He was an English writer and journalist who stood out for works such as Memoirs of a Gentleman, On women’s education and The life and surprising adventures of Robinson Crusoe.
- François Voltaire (1694 – 1778). He was a French writer, historian and philosopher considered one of the main figures of the Enlightenment movement. He was noted for works such as Oedipus, Naive either Optimismoy Fanaticism or Mohammed.
- Félix María Samaniego (1745 – 1801). He was a Spanish writer who stood out for works with morals such as Moral Fables, Samaniego’s Fables and The Ant and the Grasshopper.
- Fray Diego Tadeo González (1733 – 1794). He was a Spanish writer and poet who stood out for works such as The treacherous bat, Poems by M. F Diego González of the Order of Saint Augustine and Lectures on the history of Joseph.
- Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (1744 – 1811). He was a writer and politician who stood out for his report on the agrarian lawhis Report on public education and his literary work The honest criminal.
- Jonathan Swift (1667 – 1745). He was an Irish writer who stood out for works such as Gulliver’s Travels, The battle between the ancients and the moderns and Tale of a barricade.
- José Cadalso (1741 – 1782). He was a soldier, writer and poet who stood out for works such as gloomy nights, Scholars to violence and Moroccan letters.
- Jose Iglesias de la Casa (1748 – 1791). He was a Spanish priest and poet who stood out for works such as posthumous poems, Pastoral and lyrical and Poems by D. Josef Iglesias de la Casa.
- Leandro Fernandez de Moratin (1760 – 1828). He was a Spanish playwright, poet and translator who stood out for works such as The yes of the girls, The old man and the girl and to translate Hamlet by Shakespeare.
- Thomas of Iriarte (1750 – 1791). He was a Spanish writer, playwright and poet who stood out for works that mixed fable and comedy, such as The spoiled gentleman: the spoiled lady, Poems that are more than spicy and Music: poem.
Neoclassical sculpture
For neoclassical artists, the coldness of white marble denoted simplicity and beauty.
Neoclassical sculpture It was characterized by the use of unpainted or unpolychromed white marble. just like the technique used in Greco-Roman art. For neoclassical artists, the coldness of white marble connoted simplicity and beauty, especially in human figures, which had subtle expressions, their bodies were more credible and with fewer ornaments than those used in baroque art.
neoclassical architecture
The neoclassical architecture was imposing, robust and with simpler finishes.
Neoclassical architecture was characterized by being imposing in terms of the size of the buildings, but with less ornamental finishes. Columns, arches and domes stood out in horizontal and robust constructions.
Among the main architectural works of the Neoclassical period are:
- Arc de Triomphe, in Paris.
- Holy Trinity Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
- Capitol, in the United States.
- Prado Museum, Spain.
- Royal Opera House of Versailles, Paris.
- Astronomical observatory, in Spain.
- Bourbon Palace, Paris.
- Garnier Palace, Paris.
- Pantheon, in Paris.
- Rotunda at the University of Virginia, United States.
Follow with: Rococo