The Romantic Age

Values of Romanticism Rejection of: simplicity, proportion and restraint. Romantics valued: Feeling, Intuition, Passion, Imagination, Spontaneity

Revolutions and Rights American Revolution French Revolution Democracy, republicanism, equality before the law Congresses, presidencies, constitutions-- results of those conflicts

The Revolution in America American colonists’ resentment of British control Declaration of Independence, 1776 Principles of Enlightenment--John Locke’s Treatise on Civil Government Thomas Jefferson: equality, civil rights and popular sovereignty from philosophes Federalist Papers: authority of state; rights of individual--did not address slavery

The Revolution in France Louis XVI: Middle class delegates: “Oath of the Tennis Court” July 14: Bastille prison attached Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen-- from Rousseau’s thoughts Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite 1793, beheading of monarchs Reign of Terror began

The Napoleonic Era disillusioned citizens New hero: Napoleon Bonaparte Dreams of imperial glory Crowned himself emperor in 1804 Campaign to conquer Europe Defeated in 1814 at Waterloo Imprisoned for the rest of his life in St. Helena

Napoleon and the Arts Imitated Roman emperors--Paris imperial capital like Rome Power advertised by arts and buildings Louvre--museum to pieces stolen from conquered countries Triumphal arches and columns La Madeleine--Greek temple

Jacques-Louis David--Painter to the Empire Coronation scene and equestrian painting Benoist’s Portrait of a Black Woman Counterpoint to Canova’s sculpture of Napoleon’s sister as Venus

Colonial Revolutionaries Toussaint L’Ouverture led Haiti’s revolt against the French--Napoleon imprisoned him. Simon Bolivar--wanted to create a United States of South America. Obtained freedom for Venezuela, Colombia and Peru.

The Romantic Hero Romantics preferred feeling and imagination to intellect and reason. Attracted to the picturesque in nature and the past; prized creativity and cast off neoclassical restraint and laws

Beethoven Suffering romantic genius Deafness at 25 Pianist in Vienna, able to sell his compositions Symphony No. 3 Eroica was the bridge between Classical style and romantic style

Added piccolo and trombone to the symphonic orchestra Symphony Number 5 in C Minor Confrontation with fate: “Fate knocking at the door” Motif: Term for short musical idea

Musical Virtuosos Paganini: violin Chopin: piano Schumann: Songs and symphonies Clara Schumann: Lieder (songs) Brahms: symphonies

Goethe and Faust Faust: romantic masterpiece drama in two parts Delacroix illustrated a French translation Schubert composed songs Gounod: opera Faust: Ambition to burst all human constraint and indulge unquenched desire for experience

Delacroix and the Byronic Hero French more attracted to sensuality of Lord Byron: Don Juan, life of sexual freedom, political idealism and exotic travel. Intellectual and moral freedom Eugene Delacroix rebelled against the academy Color, drama and exotic themes

Death of Sardanapalus and Liberty Leading the People Orgy of egoism, violence and sexuality When threatened by rebellion he destroys his possessions and himself Revolution of 1830 overthrew the Bourbon king Unity of the classes

Elements of Romanticism Heroic individualism: Faust and Lord Byron Protest against political and social injustice Attraction for nature and medieval times Fascination with evil and the exotic Sensibility that responded to historical circumstances

Romantic Social Protest: William Blake Sympathetic observer of those enslaved by the industrial city Condemned the ills of urban existence

Romantic Feminism Mary Wollstonecraft: A Vindication of the Rights of Women : Compared women to soldiers Revolutions did not liberate women. Napoleon’s legal code denied women the right to hold property Western nations did not allow women to vote

Goya and Spain Goya’s paintings depicted the senseless brutality of war Executions of the Third of May 1808 Christ-like martyr in white Lamp: enlightenment (irony) The Sleep of Reason Brings Forth Monsters, Romantic fascination with evil

The Romantics and Nature Romantic landscapes Constable: The Hay Wain rustic landscapes Turner: The Slave Ship Rain, Steam and Speed: The Great Western Railway Effects of fog and smoke

Romantic Exotism Middle classes become strong Drawn to exotic and grotesque Colonies overseas: Africa and Asia Fascination with Arabic customs and dress Ingres: Disciple of David--The Turkish Bath Classical figures

Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique Innovated with program music (composition that tells a story or describes a place) Story of Irish actress who rejected him Fifth movement: musician is dead and his beloved joins the celebration in a witches’ dance The macabre

The Romantic Novel Fascination with evil and the demonic: The Gothic novel Edgar Allan Poe Charlotte and Emily Bronte Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Hero who suffers a conflict between his God-like ambitions and moral blindness