Art of the Enlightenment, Rococo

and Neoclassical Art

Professor A. D’Ascoli

Rococo Art CharacteristicsRococo Art Characteristics

Stresses the main traits onlyStresses the main traits onlyUses mirrors and reflections to blur and Uses mirrors and reflections to blur and

create a world of dreamcreate a world of dreamTotally free and a-symmetric in styleTotally free and a-symmetric in style Irregular lines and contoursIrregular lines and contoursUsually mundane or palace life scenesUsually mundane or palace life scenesDepicts the pursuit of pleasure and leisure Depicts the pursuit of pleasure and leisure

time of the wealthy; decadencetime of the wealthy; decadence

1818thth Century Art - Rococo Century Art - Rococo

Pilgrimage to CytheraPilgrimage to Cythera 17171717 Paris, FranceParis, France PaintingPainting Artist: Jean-Antoine Artist: Jean-Antoine

WatteauWatteau Noted for his Noted for his fete galantesfete galantes

(outdoor party scenes)(outdoor party scenes) Lightness of content and Lightness of content and

color is representative of color is representative of the Rococo movementthe Rococo movement

1818thth Century Art - Rococo Century Art - Rococo Bath of DianaBath of Diana 17421742 Paris, FranceParis, France PaintingPainting Artist: Francois BoucherArtist: Francois Boucher Pale, delicate and well Pale, delicate and well

taken care of was the taken care of was the typical female ideal of the typical female ideal of the periodperiod

Nudity was only Nudity was only acceptable if it was placed acceptable if it was placed within an antique contextwithin an antique context

1818thth Century - Rococo Century - Rococo The MeetingThe Meeting 1771 – 17731771 – 1773 Paris, FranceParis, France PaintingPainting Artist: Jean-Honore Artist: Jean-Honore

FragonardFragonard Boucher’s studentBoucher’s student Famous for his rapid Famous for his rapid

brushwork often brushwork often finishing paintings finishing paintings within an hourwithin an hour

Sculpture is an Sculpture is an imaginary oneimaginary one

1818thth Century Century

The Artist and Her The Artist and Her DaughterDaughter

17851785 Paris, FranceParis, France PaintingPainting Artist: Marie-Louise-Artist: Marie-Louise-

Elisabeth Vigee-LebrunElisabeth Vigee-Lebrun Court painter for Marie Court painter for Marie

AntoinetteAntoinette Classical style of nobilityClassical style of nobility

Self-Portrait with Two Pupils

1785

Paris, France

Painting - oil on canvas6 ft. 11 in. x 4 ft. 11 1/2 in.

Adélaide Labille-Guiard

The French Art Academy only allowed 4 women in its ranks at any one time; this piece was used as a propaganda piece to allow more women in

1818thth Century - Rococo Century - Rococo

The BriocheThe Brioche 17631763 Paris, FranceParis, France PaintingPainting Artist: Jean-Baptiste-Artist: Jean-Baptiste-

Simeon ChardinSimeon Chardin Chardin was a master Chardin was a master

of still life paintingsof still life paintings Use of oil paints allows Use of oil paints allows

for realistic portrayalsfor realistic portrayals

1818thth Century – Rococo Century – Rococo

The Marriage ContractThe Marriage Contract 17441744 London, EnglandLondon, England PaintingPainting Artist: William HogarthArtist: William Hogarth Hogarth painted in series, Hogarth painted in series,

this one is about this one is about arranged marriages and arranged marriages and how they often turn sourhow they often turn sour

Always had a moralAlways had a moral From the Marriage a la From the Marriage a la

mode seriesmode series

1818thth Century - Rococo Century - Rococo

Lady Elizabeth Delme Lady Elizabeth Delme & her Children& her Children

1777 – 17801777 – 1780 London, EnglandLondon, England PaintingPainting Artist: Joshua Artist: Joshua

ReynoldsReynolds Favored classical art Favored classical art

rather than new stylerather than new style Places aristocratic Places aristocratic

subjects in naturesubjects in nature

1818thth Century - Rococo Century - Rococo

Mary, Countess HoweMary, Countess Howe 17651765 London, EnglandLondon, England PaintingPainting Artist: Thomas Artist: Thomas

GainsboroughGainsborough Reynolds and Reynolds and

Gainsborough were rivals Gainsborough were rivals in the English courtin the English court

1818thth century portraiture is century portraiture is supposed to flatter the supposed to flatter the subjectsubject

Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan

1787

London, England

Painting - oil on canvas7 ft. 2 5/8 in. x 5 ft. 5/8 in.

Thomas Gainsborough

A friend of Gainsborough who was a celebrated Soprano singer

He depicted her seated upon a rocky knoll on a windswept hillside almost as if she were a muse of nature.

Neo-Classical Art CharacteristicsNeo-Classical Art Characteristics

Reaction to Baroque and Rococo Reaction to Baroque and Rococo extravagances extravagances

Return to classical lines and themesReturn to classical lines and themesUnemotional and straightforwardUnemotional and straightforwardDiscipline and order are the focusDiscipline and order are the focusMoral themesMoral themesRestraintRestraint

George Washington

Ca. 1779-1781

New York

Painting - oil on canvas95 x 61 3/4 in.

Charles Willson Peale

The original portrait was so famous that Peale made several copies, in several uniforms with several backgrounds.

This one is shown after the Battle of Trenton, one of the turning points of the Revolutionary War

Portrait of Paul Revere

Cs. 1768-1770

Boston, MA

Painting - oil on canvas2 ft. 11 1/8 in. x 2 ft. 4 in.

John Singleton Copley

Copley was the most famous American portrait painter

Revere is shown wearing linen which was banned by England but is contemplating a tea pot, the artist attempting to stay neutral in the conflict

1818thth Century – Neo-Classicism Century – Neo-Classicism

The Tennis Court OathThe Tennis Court Oath

1789 – 17911789 – 1791

Paris, FranceParis, France

PaintingPainting

Artist: Jacques Louis DavidArtist: Jacques Louis David

A return to the classicalA return to the classical

ideals of the Renaissanceideals of the Renaissance

briefly reappeared duringbriefly reappeared during

the French Revolution and the French Revolution and

Napoleon’s reign Napoleon’s reign

1818thth Century – Neo-Classicism Century – Neo-Classicism

Napoleon in his StudyNapoleon in his Study 18121812 Paris, FranceParis, France PaintingPainting Artist: DavidArtist: David Surrounded by objects Surrounded by objects

to celebrate his to celebrate his accomplishments accomplishments Napoleon attempted to Napoleon attempted to portray himself as a portray himself as a Roman EmperorRoman Emperor

1818thth Century – Neo-Classical Century – Neo-Classical

Oath of the HoratiiOath of the Horatii 17851785 Paris, FranceParis, France PaintingPainting Artist: DavidArtist: David Scenes set in ancient Scenes set in ancient

Rome became the rage Rome became the rage when Pompeii was when Pompeii was rediscovered and rediscovered and excavatedexcavated

Horizontals and diagonalsHorizontals and diagonals

Death of Socrates

1787

Paris, France

Painting

Jacques-Louis David

Classical objects in the painting were inspired by those actually found in Pompeii

1818thth Century – Neo-Classical Century – Neo-Classical

Death of MaratDeath of Marat 17931793 Paris, FranceParis, France Artist: DavidArtist: David PaintingPainting Left large empty space in Left large empty space in

upper portionupper portion Purpose was to create a Purpose was to create a

public memorial after his public memorial after his murder by Charlotte murder by Charlotte Corday (a Royalist)Corday (a Royalist)

1818thth Century – Neo-Classical Century – Neo-Classical Cornelia Pointing to her Cornelia Pointing to her

Children as her TreasuresChildren as her Treasures 17851785 London, EnglandLondon, England PaintingPainting Angelica KaufmanAngelica Kaufman She trained in Italy where she She trained in Italy where she

studied the paintings at studied the paintings at Pompeii and modeled her Pompeii and modeled her figures on the classical idealfigures on the classical ideal

This work champions family This work champions family values values

Simple attire and a bare Simple attire and a bare interior to show that material interior to show that material things are not importantthings are not important

1818thth Century – Neo-Classical Century – Neo-Classical Watson and the SharkWatson and the Shark 17781778 Boston, MassachusettsBoston, Massachusetts Artist: John CopleyArtist: John Copley PaintingPainting Although trained in Although trained in

England at the Royal England at the Royal Academy and basically a Academy and basically a Neo-Classicist, this work Neo-Classicist, this work foreshadows the foreshadows the movement of Romanticism movement of Romanticism that was to comethat was to come

Real event that was Real event that was depicted for political depicted for political propaganda when Watson propaganda when Watson was running for officewas running for office

Voltaire

1778

Paris, France

Sculpture18 7/8 in. high

Jean-Antoine Houdon

Voltaire was a master of Enlightenment philosophy – here he is seen in old age

1818thth Century- Neo-Classical Century- Neo-Classical

George WashingtonGeorge Washington 1788 – 17921788 – 1792 Virginia and ParisVirginia and Paris SculptureSculpture Artist: Jean-Antoine Artist: Jean-Antoine

HoudonHoudon Stance is Stance is contrappostocontrapposto In general’s attire rather In general’s attire rather

than everyday clothesthan everyday clothes 13 fasces (rods) 13 fasces (rods)

Paulene Borghese as Venus

1808

Rome, Italy

Sculpture

Artist: Antonio Canova

She was the sister of Napoleon

Cupid and Psyche

1787-1793

Rome, Italy

Sculpture

Antonio Canova

Probably his most often imitated and copied piece

1818thth Century – Neo-Classical Century – Neo-Classical Chiswick HouseChiswick House 1725 – 17291725 – 1729 London, EnglandLondon, England ArchitectureArchitecture Artists: Lord Burlington & Artists: Lord Burlington &

William KentWilliam Kent Design based on the Design based on the

Pantheon in Rome and Villa Pantheon in Rome and Villa RotondaRotonda

Central dome and pediment Central dome and pediment are tributes to classical are tributes to classical RomeRome

Brandenburg Gate

1788-1791

Berlin, Germany

Architecture

Karl Gotthard Langhans

Similar to a triumphal arch and a temple facade

The Panthéon (Sainte-Geneviève)

1755-1792

Paris, France

Architecture

Artist:Jacques-Germain Soufflot

Originally a church turned into a Temple of Reason under Napoleon – now a mausoleum

1818thth Century – Neo-Classical Century – Neo-Classical La MadeleineLa Madeleine 1806 – 18421806 – 1842 Paris, FranceParis, France ArchitectureArchitecture Artist: Pierre-Alexandre VignonArtist: Pierre-Alexandre Vignon Based on the Parthenon of Based on the Parthenon of

AthensAthens Renamed by Napoleon briefly Renamed by Napoleon briefly

as Temple of Glory (he was as Temple of Glory (he was going to use it to store his war going to use it to store his war trophies)trophies)

Corinthian order was usedCorinthian order was used Raised base and steps only in Raised base and steps only in

front are Roman temple front are Roman temple characteristics characteristics

1818thth Century – Neo-Classical Century – Neo-Classical MonticelloMonticello 1770 – 1806 1770 – 1806 Charlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia ArchitectureArchitecture Artist: Thomas JeffersonArtist: Thomas Jefferson He designed his own house He designed his own house

based on Chiswick House, based on Chiswick House, the Pantheon, and Villa the Pantheon, and Villa RotundaRotunda

Dome is polygonal rather Dome is polygonal rather than a simple circlethan a simple circle

Very symmetricalVery symmetrical

1818thth Century – Neo-Classical Century – Neo-ClassicalVirginia State Capitol BuildingVirginia State Capitol Building

Maison CareeMaison Caree

Dome of CapitolDome of Capitol

George Washington as ZeusGeorge Washington as Zeus

The EndThe End

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Romanticism and RealismRomanticism and Realism