Romanticism 1800-1850 Romantic art is summed up as “Feeling is all!” Goethe Age of sensibility a rebellion against Neoclassic period Romanticism got its name from revived medieval tales called romances Gothic revival A cult of nature worship, man and nature were touched by the supernatural Romantic artist painted what he saw before him and what he say within him. Mary Shelly wrote Frankenstein

French Romanticism Theodore Gericault 1791-1824 Eugene Delacroix

Theodore Gericault 1791-1824 The Raft of the Medusa brought Romanticism into company with extremis. Broke from Classical Academy and artist stressed emotion rather than intellect A Romantic himself “safety last” Banned from the Louvre for brawling Died after a series of riding accidents Left only three paintings

Theodore Gericault The Raft of the Medusa 1818-19 Painting is 16’*23 ½’. Based on modern shipwreck that caused political scandal. Government ship, Medusa, carried French colonist to Senegal sank off coast of Africa due to incompetence of captain, which was a political appointee. Captain and crew were first to evacuate taking all lifeboats towing a make shift raft, which they eventually cut loose, with 149 passengers. 15 passengers survived after being at sea with no food or water. He investigated and built a replica of the raft in his studio.

Eugene Delacroix Became leader of Romantic movement after Gericault’s death Chose subjects from literature or from stirring topical events Visit Morocco 1832 infiltrated harem enjoyed the colorful costumes and characters Moody, solitary man, who always ran a slight fever. Violence charged his exotic images. Did not reproduce reality precisely but aimed at capturing its essence.

Eugene Delacroix Massacre at Chios 1824 Turks slaughtering Christians on Chios. People wept when they saw the pitiful babe clutching its dead mother’s breast.

Eugene Delacroix Death of Sardanapalus 1827 Based on Byron’s verses of the Assyrian emperor Sardanapalus. He faced military defeat and ordered all his possessions destroyed. Servants execute kings harem. Intense hues, vivid light/dark contrasts, and turbulent forms in broad brushstrokes are virtual manifesto of Romanticism.

Neoclassicism vs Romanticism Ingres “Paganini” 1819 Delacroix “Paganini” 1832

English Romanticism John Constable 1776-1837 J.M.W. Turner 1775-1851 The Hay Wain 1821 J.M.W. Turner 1775-1851 Crossing the Brook Rain, Steam, and Speed—The Great Western Railway 1844

John Constable The Hay Wain 1821 Father a miller detested his son a lowly painter, he did not sale a painting until he was 39. Looked down upon painters who painted their work on tradition rather than what they saw. Interested in meteorology applied to his paintings. Believed in painting what he actually saw. He would place tiny white dots to make shimmering of light (Constable’s snow), tiny red dots of leaves to enhance the green.

J.M.W. Turner Crossing the Brook 1815 Child of a poor London barber, skipped school to sketch his father’s costumers. At 12 he was selling his water colors and by 15 had an exhibit at Royal Academy. Became wealthy with his familiar rural scenes. After visiting the continent fascinated by the wilder aspects of nature; Alpine peaks, flaming sunsets, and man’s struggle against the elements.

J.M.W. Turner Rain, Steam, and Speed—The Great Western Railway 1844 Style became more abstract trying to make color alone inspire feeling. 1st to abandon brown or buff priming for a white undercoat. Eliminated detail to concentrate on essential form a locomotive speeding over a bridge. Really tried to express idea of speed, air, and mist through veils of blue and gold pigment. Turner added people and title to his paintings for the public. Many critics considered him an abstract painter which he denied. After his death many paints that did not contain a recognizable subject. He became a recluse and only sold what he considered second rate paintings. Legend states at his death he asked to be taken to the window to see the sunset.

American Romanticism Thomas Cole 1801-48 The Oxbow (The Connecticut River Near Northampton) 1836 Frederic Edwin Church 1826-1900 Twilight in the Wilderness 1860 Albert Bierstadt 1830-1902 The Rocky Mountains 1863 George Caleb Bingham 1811-79 Fur Traders Descending the Missouri 1845 Painters focused on two subjects nature and natural man. People painted in ordinary activities. Forest were always picture –postcard perfect, settlers cheerful at work or play. Before 1825 Americans considered menacing. Nature becomes a symbol of America’s unspoiled national character. Emerson and Thoreau wrote that God inhabited nature landscapes became portrait of God’s face. Hudson River School was America’s first native school of painting. Horizons were large scale sweeping panoramic suggesting America’s unlimited future.

Thomas Cole 1801-48 The Oxbow (The Connecticut River Near Northampton) 1836 Founder of the Hudson River School of Romantic landscapes. Self-taught artist who lived on bluff over Hudson River. Presents foreground in great detail and blurs distant vistas to suggest the infinite American landscape. The chair and umbrella is his and the scene is just after a thunderstorm. Painting gives idea of a fresh start for humanity

Frederic Edwin Church Twilight in the Wilderness 1860 Along with Bierstadt know as the Lewis and Clark of painting, “intrepid limners”. Painted the savage beauty of nature from the lush vegetation of the tropics to the icebergs of the Arctic.

Frederic Edwin Church Aurora Borealis 1865

Albert Bierstadt The Rocky Mountains 1863 His career coincided with the westward expansion. At 29 he joined a survey team to map the westward route. Stirs the idea of the Garden of Eden. Use the highly detailed foreground and vanishing background to provide idea of America is a land of endless beauty. Shoshone Indians. Sold paintings for $25,000 and charged 25 cents to see exhibitions

George Caleb Bingham Fur Traders Descending the Missouri 1845 Genre painting of everyday normal people gained popularity. Son of the pioneers painted scenes from the frontier life. Saw himself more of a social historian immortalizing pioneer life by painting such things as; river boatmen playing cards, fishing, and chewing tobacco. Taught himself how to paint by a how-to manual and homemade pigments. Commonplace was grand and just as noble as ancient heroes in battle.