The Romantic Period 1815-1848

The Romantic Period

1815-1848

What Is Romanticism?

Period of political, economic and social upheaval after Napoleon’s reign in France

Caused by international stability Growing middle class provided an audience

for the arts Characterized by strong portrayal of

emotions through the arts

What Is Romanticism?

Belief was that imagination and creation should determine artistic creation

Denounced The Enlightenment, as it impeded creativity

Rediscovery of human freedom and creativity, which had been impeded by the habits and rules of civilization

What Is Romanticism?

Broke with tradition, creating new cultural forms and techniques

Intent of the arts was for the audience to feel and experience their work

Causes Of The Romantic Period

People had time to appreciate the arts Wealthy patrons were no longer needed to

support artists Failure of The Enlightenment gave way to a

new type of thinking

Romantic Art

Independent artists wanted to break away from the restrictions of the Classic style

These feelings grew into The Romantic Movement Artists were fascinated with Ancient Greece and

Rome, The Middle Ages, The Orient, and Africa Was less prominent than Romantic music and

Literature

ROMANTIC PAINTING

Francisco de Goya (1746-1828)

Was unimpressed by masterpieces of the Classic and Renaissance eras

Was official painter for the Spanish royal family

Painting was characterized by “Romantic Temper”

Charles IV of Spain and his Family, 1800

Third Of May, 1808

Third Of May, 1808

Colossus

Theodore Gericault (1791-1824)

Led a very “romantic” life

Lived and worked in Rome prior to returning to Paris

Works often celebrated brutality and horror of war

The Charging Chausseur, 1812

Raft of the Medusa , 1819

Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863)

Led the Romantic movement in France after Gericault’s death

Similar in his lifestyle to Gericault

Traveled to Greece during their revolution

Story was secondary to the intensity of the moment

Massacre at Chios, 1824

Death at Sardanapalus, 1827

Liberty Leading The People, 1830

John Constable (1776-1837)

Conveyed feelings through landscapes

Among first to paint outdoors

Believed that love could be expressed through nature

Wivenhoe Park, 1816

The Hay Wain, 1821

Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Grounds, 1825

Salisbury

Salisbury, 1831

JMW Turner, (1775-1851)

Fascinated by the power of nature

Work was more abstract Worked in watercolours

Ivy Bridge, 1813

Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps, 1812

The Fighting Temeraire 1839

.

Burial at Sea, 1841

Rain, Steam and Speed-The Great Western Railway, 1844

ROMANTIC ARCHITECTURE

ROMANTIC ARCHITECTURE

England was the leader Renewed interest in Middle ages Gothic

Rivival Architects adapted & mastered both styles

(Classical & Gothic) Classical in proportion but decoration was

Medieval

Gothic Architecture

Houses of Parliament, Charles Barry & A. Welby Pugin,

1840-1852

Royal Pavilion at BrightonJohn Nash, 1815-1822

Basilica of St. Clotilde, 1846-1857

ROMANTIC MUSIC

Romantic Music

Considered to be the most romantic of the three major arts

Evolved from former classical style Large focus on the piano Nature of the audience had largely changed Along with literature helped to kick-start the

entire movement

Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827)

Can be seen as both a classical

and romantic composer Prominent use of piano, winds,

double bass Gradually lost hearing throughout

his life, but still produced masterpieces

Was one of the first composers to work freelance

Was initially attracted to the Enlightenment , but later caught on with the growing trend of Romanticism

He was also suspected of being a Freemason

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wod-MudLNPA

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Had strong vocal harmonies blending with the piano Died at a very young age, but still produced many great works Interest in his work only increased after his death

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bosouX_d8Y

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

One of the last Romantic composers Music was very aggressive Had strong emphasis on string

section, and lower brass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFTnFErJEu4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V92OBNsQgxU

ROMANTIC LITERATURE

Romantic Literature

Authors were upset with the focus on writing during The Enlightenment

Again works were based on provoking emotion and compassion with characters

Started Romanticism in the early 19th Century, with the publication of many different poems

First Romantic work considered to be William Woodsworth and Samuel Coleridge’s Lyrical Ballads

Romantic Literature

Was also a backlash against The Industrial Revolution

There was an increasing demand for spontaneity and lyricism

Some prominent themes were: Libertarianism, Nature, The Exotic, and the Supernatural

William Woodsworth, (1770-1850)

Lived in France during the French Revolution

Rejected poetic diction in favour of the language of the commoners

Lyrical Ballads, Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abby

Samuel Coleridge, (1772-1834)

Use of the exotic settings

Used opium to ease pain of rheumatism

Most influential literary critic on 19th century

Wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Was considered the most romantic of British poets

Often portrayed young men who were defiant and melancholic

Fled to Greece after his marriage dissolved, and helped with the revolution

George Gordon (Lord Byron) (1788-1824)

Percy Bysshe Shelley, (1792-1822)

Idealistic and influenced by political events

Friend of Byron Married to Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley (1797-1851)

Was the wife of prolific British romantic poet Percy Shelley

Wrote Frankenstein

Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

Was a prolific poet novelist and dramatist

Wrote the romantic novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but was also famous for later works such as Les Miserables

Was renowned for communicating his views through his writing, such as championing free thought and his atheism

When he passed he was buried in Le Pantheon, a famous French cemetery along with other famous Frenchmen such as: Voltaire, Rousseau, Marat, and Braille

Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849)

Was a Gothic revivalist, similar to Mary Shelley

Wrote many poems, with his most famous being The Raven

Also helped with the creation of the science fiction genre

Johann Von Goethe (1749-1832)

Was the centre of German Literature at the time

Was fascinated with modern individualism

Most famous piece was Faust

Romanticism’s Importance Today

Paved the way for more individual and free thinking

Many artists of this period would influence prominent artists of coming periods

Helped to expand the middle class