18th century art
TRANSCRIPT
18th Century Art The Enlightenment, Neo-Classicism, Romanticism
The Enlightenment
A new enlightened way of thinking critically about the world and about humankind, independent of religion, myth, or tradition
Voltaire (1694 – 1778)
One of the most important figures of the Enlightenment. He was a French writer and philosopher critical of the rule of Kings and the selfish privileges of the nobility and the church
Voltaire protested for freedom of thought and religion
Jean-Antoine Houdon
Voltaire Seated
1781
Terra Cotta model for marble sculpture
Seated Portrait
Smile of Voltaire shows his satisfaction in his old age that he helped change France with his activism.
Voltaire helped pave the way for the French Revolution (1789 – 1799)
Voltaire believed “all men are created equal”
The Enlightenment was grounded in empirical evidence (using reason and
needing evidence)
Scientific Questioning
Joseph Wright of Derby, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump, 1768, Oil on Canvas
Drama of candlelit scene (Inspired by Baroque Style)
The wonders of scientific knowledge
Need to prove ideas scientifically / evidence
Air Pump related to discovery of oxygen / “power of steam” – steam engines used in England for industrial revolution
Comparison
Neo-Classicism
Renewed interest in “Classical” Ancient Greek and Roman art and culture
Jacques-Louis David, Oath of the Horatii, 1784, Oil on Canvas
Inspired by Classic Greek and Roman Art and Art of the Renaissance
Oath of the Horatii – Roman History – 3 Horatius brothers and their father swear to “win or die” for Rome (conflict between Rome and Alba, Italy)
Statuesque figures
Emotional female figures on right
Comparison
Jacques-Louis David
The Death of Marat
1793
Oil on Canvas
“Neo-classical spareness” – cold, empty space above
Inspired by French Revolution
Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat (revolutionary radical and friend of David – stabbed to death)
Narrative details to tell story – the knife, the wound, the blood, the letter
Antonio Canova, Pauline Borghese as Venus, 1808, Marble Sculpture
Napoleon’s sister as the goddess of beauty (Napoleon Bonaparte – French Emperor)
Napoleon commissioned several Neo-classical artworks by Canova
Holding a golden apple – symbol of goddess triumph in the Judgment of Paris (story from Greek Mythology – who’s the most beautiful goddess)
Pose and drapery recall Greek sculpture
Comparison
Antonio Canova
Cupid and Psyche
1787
Marble Sculpture
Illustrates story from Greek Mythology (Love story between a human and a God involving jealousy)
Psyche – beautiful human daughter of King and Queen
Cupid – god – son of Venus – Venus jealous of Psyche’s beauty
Elizabeth Vigee-Lebrun
Self-Portrait with her Daughter, Julie
1789
Oil on Canvas
Artist was one of a very few women admitted to the art academy
After the French Revolution, they took back her degree because women were no longer accepted to the art academy
Neo-Classical clothing
Closeness between a mother and child (reference to Renaissance Art - Virgin Mary / triangle composition)
Romanticism
Interest in Personal Freedoms (freedom of thought, freedom of feeling, freedom of action, freedom of
speech, etc.)
“Feeling is all”
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749 – 1832)
William Blake
The Ancient of Days
1794
Illustration (Hand-colored etching)
Blake was a visionary poet, painter and engraver
Blake visited by “spirits” in his dreams
Classical references (ideal, classical anatomy of figure) – Blake admired ancient Greek art
Energy and Movement – Ancient of Days leans forward unleashing power into rays of light - wind through his hair and beard
Henri Fuseli
The Nightmare
1781
Oil on Canvas
Fantasies of artist’s imagination (Human subconscious – dreams)
Incubus – mythological creature that preys on women at night
Title is a play on words – “nightmare” – mara is a ghost horse who torments and suffocates sleepers
Composition related to Baroque art - Dynamism
Neo-Classical details – woman lying on bed with draped cloth
Francisco Goya
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters
1798
Graphic Arts (Etching and Aquatint)
If you forget reason, “monsters will appear” (connection to Enlightenment)
Goya, himself, asleep
Attacked by owls and bats (Fear)
The unleashing of imagination, emotion, and nightmares
Francisco Goya, The 3rd of May 1808, 1814, Oil on Canvas
French soldiers killing Spanish people
Violent scene – blood / dead Spanish people
Resistance and Patriotism of Spanish
Emotional / Dramatic – use of strong light and dark