The Enlightenment Era 1700-1800
Feb 24, 2016
The Enlightenment Era1700-1800
Beginnings in Paris Roughly 1700 Spread to Germany, Netherlands, Great
Britain, Italy, and North America French is now the language of choice
Reason& Logic
Traditionsand
Superstitions
1. Empiricism2. Tolerance3. Rationalism4. Skepticism5. Deism
1. nostalgia for the past
2. Absolutism3. organized
religions4. Irrationalism5. emotionalism
What is “Enlightenment?
Centers of Enlightenment
The Philosophe►polymathic --– broad knowledge► autonomous –-- beholden to no one.► sociable –-- worked with other
philosophes.► moral obligation –-- improve society.
- find the most just and efficient “systems.” (economic, political, social)
The “Republic of Letters”►URBAN –-- gathering of elites in the
cities. (salons)► URBANE --– cosmopolitan, worldly
- music, art, literature, politics - read newspapers & the latest books.
► POLITENESS –-- proper behavior - self-governed.
Why Study the Enlightenment?1. Its values –-- autonomous & free use of one’s
own reason, toleration, progress &questioning authority.
2.Assumptions –-- perfectibility of all humans; reliability of the evidence of the senses & instruments of measurement.
3.Practices –-- technological treatment of nature.4. Institutions –-- scientific institutes, centralized
states, & technocratic experts.
The Importance of the Salon
►Literacy: - 80% for men; 60% women.► Books were expensive (one day’s
wages.)► Many readers for each book (20 : 1)
- novels, plays & other literature. - journals, memoirs, “private lives.” - philosophy, history, theology. - newspapers, political pamphlets.
“Must Read” Books of the Time
The Culture of the Enlightenment
The Rococo Style 1715-1774 A reaction to the Baroque Style
Purely ornamental Flowing curves Elegance Open, light Subject themes – nature, religion,
passionate emotions
A Drawing Room
Jean-Honore Fragonard “The Swing” 1761
“The Stolen Kiss” late 1780s
“Young Woman Reading” 1776
“The Pleasures of Life” Jean-Antoine Watteau 1718
“Morning Coffee” Francois Boucher 1739
“Marquis de Pompadour” 1756
Music and the Enlightenment Opera
Spreads throughout Europe in the 18th Century The “biggies”
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Christoph Gluck Joseph Haydn
Court Composer Antonio Salieri – Austria Franz Joseph Haydn – England George Frideric Handel - Germany
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Enlightenment Values in: 1. Education
Only was taught music because it was his interest 2. Music
Light and airy Considered to be the “Musical Descartes” “The Marriage of Figaro”
3. Thought Played in the homes of the wealthy Played free outdoor concerts Traveled Europe Taught piano lessons