Restoration and 18 th Century: Visual Art and Music.

Restoration Restoration and 18and 18thth

Century: Century: Visual Art Visual Art and Musicand Music

Visual Art

• British art was influenced by French and Italian artists

• Portraiture was most important genre- William Hogarth and Joshua Reynolds

• Landscape and watercolors were developed in the 18th century - Thomas Gainsborough and Richard Wilson

• Sculptures were busts and tombs of important figures

- Rysbrack and Roubiliac

Music• Many professionals were able to

enjoy music by the beginning of the 18th century

• Clubs, opera houses, gardens gained popularity

• People also desired to learn to play music

• George Frederick Handel– Operas and oratorios, such as “The

Messiah” and “Water Music”

Unifying Principles

• Religion – Theme of many works of art and musical compositions. Evident in sculpture.

• Prosperity – Britain became a strong economic and political power. People began to patronize the arts. Many portraits were of royalty.

• Nature – Landscapes gained popularity. Nature often became a theme of visual art. Thought of as an escape from the tensions and unrest of society.

“Ode on Solitude”

• Religion – The speaker references spiritual connection as he talks about death and the importance of “peace of mind.”

• Prosperity – In the second stanza, the speaker discusses how one can survive off of the land and, in this way, prosper.

• Nature – The speaker talks about living in the quiet and being “content to breathe his native air.” He also references how one can live well by utilizing what is given by nature.

Ode on Solitude Alexander Pope

Happy the man, whose wish and care A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air, In his own ground.

Whose heards with milk, whose fields with bread, Whose flocks supply him with attire, Whose trees in summer yield him shade, In winter fire.

Blest! who can unconcern'dly find Hours, days, and years slide soft away, In health of body, peace of mind, Quiet by day,

Sound sleep by night; study and ease Together mix'd; sweet recreation, And innocence, which most does please, With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown; Thus unlamented let me dye; Steal from the world, and not a stone Tell where I lye.