The Romantic Age As seen by the artists

The Romantic Movement A reaction against the “cold and unfeeling” reason of the Enlightenment and against the destruction of nature resulting from the Industrial Revolution. Stress in on light, color, and self- expression, in opposition to the emphasis on line and firm modeling typical of neoclassical art

Key Elements Emotion--love, hate & fear Feeling-Peaceful--Violent Morbidity--indifferent to the fate of mankind Exoticism--”the sexy other” Mystery - - Dreams & Madness

The View of the Artist The artist was seen as both a social critic and a genius. By virtue of his skills (training) he became a neutral observer of many events. (but the opposite is true as well).

Romanticism The term originated among German critics wishing to distinguish "modern" traits in the arts from the "classical" traits. It came to mean a rebellion against the Neoclassic period's Age of Reason as writers, composers, architects and artists chose to express themselves with emotion and intuition rather than the rational objectivity which then characterized the arts.

Romanticism refers not to a specific style, but to an attitude of mind that was expressed in any number of ways. The word derives from the late-eighteenth century passion for medieval tales of adventure (such as the legends of King Arthur or the Holy Grail, called "romances" because they were written in a Romance language such as French or Italian rather than in Latin). This interest in the past was a symptom of the revolt against the established social order and established religion that sprang from a longing for emotional experience. Almost any experience would do, provided it was sufficiently intense.

David Caspar Friedrich

Wandering Above a Sea of Fog

Joseph Turner

Turner's seemingly effortless watercolors and oil sketches were based on impressions of nature. Turner's pictures transcend ordinary appearances, conveying a visionary sense of the forces at work in the universe. In his atmospheric depictions of shipwrecks and natural disasters reality and fantasy merge and color is used to metaphorically evoke the power of natural phenomena. By abandoning form or merely outlining it, Turner lent color autonomy and endowed it with a power of its own.

Hannibal Crossing the Alps-- Turner

Garden of the Hesperides

Shipwreck

Battle of Trafalgar 1807

Goya--Self Portrait Because of his fire and dramatic force Goya is considered a Romantic. He is outraged by what he sees and records it most violently. His was a world he could not condone.

Family of Carlos IV--Goya

Wellington--Goya Goya's admiration for Wellington is apparent from the liveliness and sympathy of his three portraits of the Duke. This portrait was first painted after Wellington's entry into Madrid, and modified two years later after he received further honors.

Osuna Goya portrays the Duke of Osuna without any medals in front of a dark background. Only the truncheon points to his military merits. The vivid dark eyes of the aristocrat, who was a supporter of the Enlightenment, lend the sensitively painted portrait an amazing presence.

Clothed Maja -- Goya

Naked Maja -- Goya

Manet’s Olympia

The Bullfight -- Goya

The Forge -- Goya

Knife Grinder -- Goya

Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters

Theodore Gericault

Mad woman

Assassin

Epsom Derby

Imperial Guard

Wild Horses

The Start of the Race of the Wild Horses

Slave Trade

Raft of the Medusa

John Constable

Salisbury Cathedral

Flatford Mill

The White Horse

The Hay Wain

Eugene Delacroix

Liberty Leading the People