Neoclassicism

1784

Social Conditions

• Secularization of European Culture• Social Democracy & Scientific progress• Internationalism (global economy)• Art is an open Market• Conscious effort to preserve art and

artifacts

1775 - 1815

• Great Upheavals• American and French Revolutions• Dictatorship of Napoleon who attempts to

unify Europe under French Rule

Neoclassicism• 1748 – Excavation begins at Pompeii renewing

interest in classical forms• Publication of The History of Ancient Art by J.J.

Winkelmann in 1764• Distinct turn from Rococo toward clarity of line and

color• Sharp transitions of area• Retreat from ambiguity and playfulness• Noble Simplicity and grandeur• Classical costume elevated subjects to universal

significance (generally)

NeoClassicism

• A way of Life affecting religion, dress and attitudes of politics

• Distaste for the refined, manipulative, and enigmatic feminism

• Virtue of moral rectitude associated with physical clarity and social reform

Painting

• Apparent rather than suggestive• No obscurity or ambiguity• Heroic masculinity• Clarity of Line, Polished Finish and

isolated color• Intolerant, righteous and dogmatic

Neoclassicism in FranceDavid, Oath of the Horatii, 1784• Architecture frames groups of

figures• Unconventional columns and

capitals• Exemplum virtutis• Caravaggio light and shadow• Contrast in attitudes of men and

women• Horatii brothers of Rome pledge to

fight three brothers from Alba; one of the sisters is engaged to an Alba brother

• Repetition of forms• Focus on body expression and

intensity of drawing• Departure from the florid Rococo

Neoclassicism in France

David, Death of Marat, 1793• Marat was a leader of the

French Revolution, murdered in his bath

• He was dying of skin disease; David does not show us this to increase pathos

• He was taking a mendicant bath

• Idealized image reminiscent of Pietà by Michelangelo

• On the paper is an act of generosity on his part

• Blood on handle of knife: blood on murderer’s hands

• Inscribed, “To Marat, David, Year 2”

• Caravaggesque background and lighting

David, Coronation of Napoleon, 1804• Coronation of Empress Josephine by Napoleon• Veronese style draperies• Cf. Rubens, Marie de’Medici• Figures lost in a disparate busy crowd• Pius I lost in crowd but maintains dignity• Pageantry, opulence• Napoleon asked David to rework actual event for this painted version

Napolean• 1769 Born in Corsica• 1793 Quickly rises to General (24 yrs old)• 1796 Campaigns into Italy against Austrians• 1798 Campaigns into Egypt – Fleet is destroyed

by the English • 1799 Returns, there is a coup, and is elected

one of the Triumverate Consulate• 1800 Gains dictatorial powers (first consul)• 1804 Crowns himself emperor

• 1812 – war with Russia• 1814 – surrenders to Allied Armies, exiled

to Island of Elba• 1815 – returns to France• 1815 – June, Waterloo & second

abdication• 1815 – Exiled to St. Helena• 1821 – Dies at age 51

Napolean, 1806

•Highly recognized 18th century sculptor

•Reputation rests on portrait busts of leading Enlightenment figures

•High Physical accuracy and psychological insight

Jean Antoine HoudonFrenchn 1741 - 1828

Neoclassicism in Italy

Canova, Pauline Borghese as Venus, 1801 – 1808

• Napoleon’s sister as Venus• She was known for her

scandalous and notorious behavior

• Cold, classically nude• Marble’s sensitivity to

chiaroscuro: soft forms• Possesses Paris’ apple that

Venus won in a contest• Very few people allowed to see

this work, and then only by torchlight

• Pose not realistic, compositional inventiveness

Neoclassicism in England

Kauffmann, Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi

• Exemplum virtutis• Ancient Roman setting• Good mother painting• Visitor shows Cornelia her jewels,

asks to see her own jewels• Cornelia responds that her children

are her jewels• Austere life of a family with children• Jewels momentarily distract one

child• Severely simplified costumes

Neoclassicism in EnglandBoyle and Kent, Chiswick House,

London• Modeled on the Villa Rotonda• Squat round Palladio-like dome, but

octagonal in shape, with semi-circular windows

• Four chimney stacks flank each side, shaped like obelisks

• Palladian decorative balls decorate projecting wings

• Palladio’s statue is on the left• 2 grand staircases• Corinthian columns• Main living quarters on second floor• Rusticated first floor• Pedimented windows• Symmetrical ground plan

Neoclassicism in EnglandWood the Younger, Royal Crescent,

Bath• Single continuous Palladian façade• 30 residences in a semi-circle,

resembles the Colosseum inside-out

• March of Ionic columns• English: roofline punctured by

chimney pots• English: excessive length• Main residences on second floor for

a better view• Columns extend between second

and third floors, uniting them• Windows interspersed between

columns

Neoclassicism in the United StatesWest, Death of General Wolfe• Controversy over whether history

paintings should be in classical dress or contemporary clothes

• Influence of the Greek Hellenistic Dying Gaul and Michelangelo’s Pietà

• Three part composition• Tells story of the Battle of Quebec in the

background: ships unloaded in the middle of the night at right, guns pulled ashore in morning in center, battle occurs around 10 am at left

• Wolfe shot three times in the Battle. West shows us a hand wound and a shot in the side

• Indian sets the place as America, none at the battle

Ranger in green comes in to tell West he has won the battle and captured the French flag before he dies

Meticulous handling of paint

Neoclassicism in the United States

Copley, Paul Revere• Seen as an artisan at work• Polished table and engraving tools

before him• Silver teapot in one hand, he is seen as

a man of thought and action• Takes a measure of us with his glance • Holds teapot as a political act: the tax

on tea• Seems to ask us where we stand on this

issue• Engraving tools and sand cushion on

table• The shine of the table and teapot offers

highly reflective surfaces

Neoclassicism in the United States

Jefferson, Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia

• Roman Doric style• French doors• Appears as though it were one

story with a dome, but actually two• Balustrade masks second floor, in

the French style• Octagonal dome• Studied Palladio• Visited Roman ruins in southern

France• Columns made of brick, covered in

stucco• Symmetrical ground plan