Romanticism

Late 18th-Early 19th Centuries Romanticism emerged as a reaction to the neo-classical style and emphasized emotion rather than reason. Romantic artists & authors extolled the virtues of feeling and simple piety over the artifacts of learning & civilization. They especially liked nature. Romantic artists/writers valued individualism, the power of the inner spirit, and heroic traits. Influenced art, literature, religion and music Key characteristics..

1. Primacy of Emotion

Ludwig Von Beethoven Influenced by the French Revolution Music a reflection of inner feelings Studied under Haydn Third Symphony intended for Napoleon Beethoven the bridge from the classical era to the Romantic

Hector Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique Emotion, mood, sound effects Soundtracks!

The Dreamer Caspar David Friedrich, 1835

2. New view of Nature: 1. Not a well-ordered machine, as Enlightened thinkers viewed it. 2. Rather it was inspiring, beautiful, to be contemplated, but not mastered. 3. Nature was overpowering to humans 4. Humans were best inspired in nature; country life was to be enjoyed. Cities weren’t so great.

The Deluge Francis Danby, 1840

Moonrise Over the Sea: Caspar David Friedrich, 1821

Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage-- Italy, 1832, Joseph MW Turner

Caspar David Friedrich--Chalk Cliffs on Rugen

Friedrich--Man and Woman Gazing at the Moon

3. Distrust of Science and Technology

Rain, Steam, and Speed Joseph Mallord William Turner, 1844

4. Greece/Rome out; Medieval themes/gothic stuff in 1. Mysteries, heroes, stories of the middle ages offered greater emotional appeal. 2. Neo-gothic architecture

Eldena Ruin Caspar David Friedrich, 1825

Winter Landscape with Church Caspar David Friedrich, 1811

5. The Exotic and the Macabre

Saturn Devours His Son Francisco Goya,

6. Nationalism

Liberty Leading the People Eug è ne Delacroix, 1830

The Shooting of May 3, 1808 Francisco Goya, 1815

7. Christian mysticism-- interest in Catholicism

The Cathedral Caspar David Friedrich, 1818

8. Fascination with the Exotic

Eugene Delacroix--The Death of Sardanapalus

Delacroix--Women in Algiers in Their Apartment

Modern Day Equivalent

Romantic Writers/Novelists

Goethe--The Sorrow of Young Werther and Faust (think of the Faustian bargain) 1. Individualism and emotions reign supreme.

Stories of the past Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Anderson--Fairy tales of the past Walter Scott-- Ivanhoe--medieval English knights

1.Medieval English knights

Gothic Literature 1. Bizarre, chilling stories. 2. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (critique of science?) 3. Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre

Believed to be a direct expression of the soul Poets could reveal the invisible world to others Some themes: –Revolt against oppressive laws and customs (Percy Shelley--Prometheus Unbound) –Love of nature William Wordsworth--nature was a mirror for humans to look to for information about themselves

Critics of science Wordsworth-- nature not a cold object of study. Alive and sacred Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein--the dangers of science

Wordsworth--Tintern Abbey If I should be, where I no more can hear Thy voice, nor catch from thy wild eyes these gleams Of past existence, wilt thou then forget That on the banks of this delightful stream We stood together; and that I, so long A worshipper of Nature, hither came, Unwearied in that service: rather say With warmer love, oh! with far deeper zeal Of holier love. Nor wilt thou then forget, That after many wanderings, many years Of absence, these steep woods and lofty cliffs, And this green pastoral landscape, were to me More dear, both for themselves, and for thy sake.

More Romantic Poetry 1. Lord Byron--the “Byronic hero” as described in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. 2. Samuel Taylor Coleridge--The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner