Art of the Enlightenment, Rococo and Neoclassical Art Professor A. D’Ascoli

Rococo Art Characteristics Stresses the main traits only Stresses the main traits only Uses mirrors and reflections to blur and create a world of dream Uses mirrors and reflections to blur and create a world of dream Totally free and a-symmetric in style Totally free and a-symmetric in style Irregular lines and contours Irregular lines and contours Usually mundane or palace life scenes Usually mundane or palace life scenes Depicts the pursuit of pleasure and leisure time of the wealthy; decadence Depicts the pursuit of pleasure and leisure time of the wealthy; decadence

18 th Century Art - Rococo Pilgrimage to Cythera Pilgrimage to Cythera Paris, France Paris, France Painting Painting Artist: Jean-Antoine Watteau Artist: Jean-Antoine Watteau Noted for his fete galantes (outdoor party scenes) Noted for his fete galantes (outdoor party scenes) Lightness of content and color is representative of the Rococo movement Lightness of content and color is representative of the Rococo movement

18 th Century Art - Rococo Bath of Diana Bath of Diana Paris, France Paris, France Painting Painting Artist: Francois Boucher Artist: Francois Boucher Pale, delicate and well taken care of was the typical female ideal of the period Pale, delicate and well taken care of was the typical female ideal of the period Nudity was only acceptable if it was placed within an antique context Nudity was only acceptable if it was placed within an antique context

18 th Century - Rococo The Meeting The Meeting 1771 – – 1773 Paris, France Paris, France Painting Painting Artist: Jean-Honore Fragonard Artist: Jean-Honore Fragonard Boucher’s student Boucher’s student Famous for his rapid brushwork often finishing paintings within an hour Famous for his rapid brushwork often finishing paintings within an hour Sculpture is an imaginary one Sculpture is an imaginary one

18 th Century The Artist and Her Daughter The Artist and Her Daughter Paris, France Paris, France Painting Painting Artist: Marie-Louise- Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun Artist: Marie-Louise- Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun Court painter for Marie Antoinette Court painter for Marie Antoinette Classical style of nobility Classical style of nobility

Self-Portrait with Two Pupils 1785 Paris, France Painting - oil on canvas 6 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

18 th Century - Rococo The Brioche The Brioche Paris, France Paris, France Painting Painting Artist: Jean-Baptiste- Simeon Chardin Artist: Jean-Baptiste- Simeon Chardin Chardin was a master of still life paintings Chardin was a master of still life paintings Use of oil paints allows for realistic portrayals Use of oil paints allows for realistic portrayals

18 th Century – Rococo The Marriage Contract The Marriage Contract London, England London, England Painting Painting Artist: William Hogarth Artist: William Hogarth Hogarth painted in series, this one is about arranged marriages and how they often turn sour Hogarth painted in series, this one is about arranged marriages and how they often turn sour Always had a moral Always had a moral From the Marriage a la mode series From the Marriage a la mode series

18 th Century - Rococo Lady Elizabeth Delme & her Children Lady Elizabeth Delme & her Children 1777 – – 1780 London, England London, England Painting Painting Artist: Joshua Reynolds Artist: Joshua Reynolds Favored classical art rather than new style Favored classical art rather than new style Places aristocratic subjects in nature Places aristocratic subjects in nature

18 th Century - Rococo Mary, Countess Howe Mary, Countess Howe London, England London, England Painting Painting Artist: Thomas Gainsborough Artist: Thomas Gainsborough Reynolds and Gainsborough were rivals in the English court Reynolds and Gainsborough were rivals in the English court 18 th century portraiture is supposed to flatter the subject 18 th century portraiture is supposed to flatter the subject

Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan 1787 London, England Painting - oil on canvas 7 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 Characteristics Reaction to Baroque and Rococo extravagances Reaction to Baroque and Rococo extravagances Return to classical lines and themes Return to classical lines and themes Unemotional and straightforward Unemotional and straightforward Discipline and order are the focus Discipline and order are the focus Moral themes Moral themes Restraint Restraint

George Washington Ca New York Painting - oil on canvas 95 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 Boston, MA Painting - oil on canvas 2 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

18 th Century – Neo-Classicism The Tennis Court Oath 1789 – 1791 Paris, France Painting Artist: Jacques Louis David A return to the classical ideals of the Renaissance briefly reappeared during the French Revolution and Napoleon’s reign

18 th Century – Neo-Classicism Napoleon in his Study Napoleon in his Study Paris, France Paris, France Painting Painting Artist: David Artist: David Surrounded by objects to celebrate his accomplishments Napoleon attempted to portray himself as a Roman Emperor Surrounded by objects to celebrate his accomplishments Napoleon attempted to portray himself as a Roman Emperor

18 th Century – Neo-Classical Oath of the Horatii Oath of the Horatii Paris, France Paris, France Painting Painting Artist: David Artist: David Scenes set in ancient Rome became the rage when Pompeii was rediscovered and excavated Scenes set in ancient Rome became the rage when Pompeii was rediscovered and excavated Horizontals and diagonals Horizontals 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

18 th Century – Neo-Classical Death of Marat Death of Marat Paris, France Paris, France Artist: David Artist: David Painting Painting Left large empty space in upper portion Left large empty space in upper portion Purpose was to create a public memorial after his murder by Charlotte Corday (a Royalist) Purpose was to create a public memorial after his murder by Charlotte Corday (a Royalist)

18 th Century – Neo-Classical Cornelia Pointing to her Children as her Treasures Cornelia Pointing to her Children as her Treasures London, England London, England Painting Painting Angelica Kaufman Angelica Kaufman She trained in Italy where she studied the paintings at Pompeii and modeled her figures on the classical ideal She trained in Italy where she studied the paintings at Pompeii and modeled her figures on the classical ideal This work champions family values This work champions family values Simple attire and a bare interior to show that material things are not important Simple attire and a bare interior to show that material things are not important

18 th Century – Neo-Classical Watson and the Shark Watson and the Shark Boston, Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts Artist: John Copley Artist: John Copley Painting Painting Although trained in England at the Royal Academy and basically a Neo-Classicist, this work foreshadows the movement of Romanticism that was to come Although trained in England at the Royal Academy and basically a Neo-Classicist, this work foreshadows the movement of Romanticism that was to come Real event that was depicted for political propaganda when Watson was running for office Real event that was depicted for political propaganda when Watson was running for office

Voltaire 1778 Paris, France Sculpture 18 7/8 in. high Jean-Antoine Houdon Voltaire was a master of Enlightenment philosophy – here he is seen in old age

18 th Century- Neo-Classical George Washington George Washington 1788 – – 1792 Virginia and Paris Virginia and Paris Sculpture Sculpture Artist: Jean-Antoine Houdon Artist: Jean-Antoine Houdon Stance is contrapposto Stance is contrapposto In general’s attire rather than everyday clothes In general’s attire rather than 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 Rome, Italy Sculpture Antonio Canova Probably his most often imitated and copied piece

18 th Century – Neo-Classical Chiswick House Chiswick House 1725 – – 1729 London, England London, England Architecture Architecture Artists: Lord Burlington & William Kent Artists: Lord Burlington & William Kent Design based on the Pantheon in Rome and Villa Rotonda Design based on the Pantheon in Rome and Villa Rotonda Central dome and pediment are tributes to classical Rome Central dome and pediment are tributes to classical Rome

Brandenburg Gate Berlin, Germany Architecture Karl Gotthard Langhans Similar to a triumphal arch and a temple facade

The Panthéon (Sainte-Geneviève) Paris, France Architecture Artist:Jacques-Germain Soufflot Originally a church turned into a Temple of Reason under Napoleon – now a mausoleum

18 th Century – Neo-Classical La Madeleine La Madeleine 1806 – – 1842 Paris, France Paris, France Architecture Architecture Artist: Pierre-Alexandre Vignon Artist: Pierre-Alexandre Vignon Based on the Parthenon of Athens Based on the Parthenon of Athens Renamed by Napoleon briefly as Temple of Glory (he was going to use it to store his war trophies) Renamed by Napoleon briefly as Temple of Glory (he was going to use it to store his war trophies) Corinthian order was used Corinthian order was used Raised base and steps only in front are Roman temple characteristics Raised base and steps only in front are Roman temple characteristics

18 th Century – Neo-Classical Monticello Monticello 1770 – – 1806 Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Architecture Architecture Artist: Thomas Jefferson Artist: Thomas Jefferson He designed his own house based on Chiswick House, the Pantheon, and Villa Rotunda He designed his own house based on Chiswick House, the Pantheon, and Villa Rotunda Dome is polygonal rather than a simple circle Dome is polygonal rather than a simple circle Very symmetrical Very symmetrical

18 th Century – Neo-Classical Virginia State Capitol Building Maison Caree

Dome of Capitol

George Washington as Zeus

The End Next lecture … Romanticism and Realism