A comparison of Enlightenment and Romanticism Thought

The Enlightenment, (Liberalism or Neo- Classicism) was an outgrowth of the ideas of the philosophes Advocated for reason, logic and common sense Stressed order, harmony and emotional restraint Romanticism, (Conservatism and Idealism) was a reaction to the philosophes It emphasized feelings, imagination, emotions and inuition

Jean-Jacques Rousseau “I know the feelings of my heart, and I know men. I am not made like any of those I have seen. I venture to believe that I am not made like any of those who are in existence. If I am not better, at least I am different.” Confessions, 1781 Eccentricity is okay

on nature and the natural world... The universe is giant mechanical clock with all parts working harmoniously and simultaneously Man's passions are not good and must be subordinated to social rules Deism – saw God as “the Great Planner” who assembled the Universe, wound it up and leaves it alone. Criticized “mechanism” -fitting all people into a mechanical framework diminished their unique individuality Machines are “soul-less” - without souls/spirit Nature is “The Sublime” -lofty, noble & majestic Pantheism-the presence of God in nature

on scientific rationalism... use the scientific method to discover and understand the natural world and Man. “the scientific method crushes emotions, feelings and impedes creativity.” … Lord Byron

William Blake “The Reasoning Power of Man is an incrustation (scab) over my immortal spirit.”

on the classical world... use the Greek and Roman achievements in the arts as examples of perfection to be studied and emulated Follow established norms Conformity in society “We do not want either Greek or Roman models, but should be just true to our own imaginations.” …Victor Hugo

on Christianity... rejected Christianity and all religions for their reliance on faith and superstition… “miracles” defy reason and logic viewed God as a spiritual force that inspired people and enriched life.

on the Middle Ages... “The Dark Ages” a period of decay and ignorance in which superstition and fanaticism reigned Medieval institutions and traditions stopped human progress “An Age of Faith” - a time of deep religious faith that nurtured social harmony

on the concept of history... it provided examples of human folly in the past and helped people prepare for a better future. “each historical period is unique to a given time, place and people with its own soul…zeitgeist.” Georg W.F. Hegel

on imagination... it distorts reason and ignores common sense the imagination of the individual should determine the content and shape of man’s creations and self-expression

William Wordsworth “…imagination and feelings, not mathematics and logic, yield the highest truth.”

“I am certain of nothing but of the holiness of my heart’s affections and the truth of imagination.” John Keats

on human feelings... feelings are an obstacle to clear thinking and hide the truth. feelings are the avenue to truth-spontaneous human emotions reveal the inner self.

The approach to literature rules and formulas were introduced for the perfect play, poem or piece of music 26 rules for tragedy 25 rules for comedy 24 rules for epic poetry Express yourself, listen to your inner voice. you can’t learn to write poetry from a textbook

Victor Hugo, “Freedom in our art!... Let us take a hammer to the theories, to the rules and the formulas ….” American Romanticists - Edgar Allen Poe Walt Whitman James Fenimore Cooper Nathaniel Hawthorne

on folk and cultural traditions... the philosophes ridiculed and dismissed folk traditions as peasant superstitions which stood in the way of human progress Romanticists viewed native languages, songs and legends as the unique creations of a people and their deepest expressions of national feelings. folk traditions were the spiritual force of a people’s identity and creativity.

on works of art... to attempt to portray, as accurately as possible, the subject and it’s surrounding environment. Greek and Roman subjects Used as propaganda, to teach or inform Paintings are not mere imitations of nature but authentic and spontaneous expressions of the artist's feelings, intuition, fantasies and dreams

> calm grandeur > noble simplicity > realistic detail >contrived, stage- like and stiff – frozen in time > figures are solid but immobile The Death of Socrates

Achilles receives the ambassadors of Agamemnon

Napoleon crossing the St. Bernard Pass

Napoleon Crossing the Alps

Hamlet at the gravesite of Yurick

Tintern Abbey (A Gothic ruin in Wales)

Raft of the Medusa, 1819, Gericault

Boat in a Maelstrom

Saturday Afternoon, Constable

Monticello, Jefferson 1784

Nuschwanstein Castle, Ludwig II, 1864

Any Questions?

a self-quiz…

The Oath of the Horatii

Zeus and Thetis

Liberty Leading the People, Delacroix 1830

Town On A River, Schinkel 1815

Palace de Pena, Portugal

Palacio de Pena

The Sabine Women, David

Vergil Reading to Augustus, Ingres

A Mountain Stream

The Boatmaker, Constable

U.S. Capitol

Any Questions?