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
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”
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
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
John Constable (1776-1837)
Conveyed feelings through landscapes
Among first to paint outdoors
Believed that love could be expressed through nature
JMW Turner, (1775-1851)
Fascinated by the power of nature
Work was more abstract Worked in watercolours
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
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
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
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