Neo classical Art

18th Century Art Styles

The Neoclassical style in art history is primarily associated with the

Eighteenth century.

Neoclassicism was a trend approximately in the years between 1750-1820.

Neoclassical style was influenced by several factors:

An artistic reaction against the thoughtlessness of the Rococo period.
Over a comparison with earlier Rococo paintings we would readily observe

that the paintings here are thematically harsh, grim and gloomy, somber,
serious and plain.

What does the word Neoclassical suggest?

Inspiration of Classical world
Mid 18th century
Discovery of ancient Roman cities
Herculaneum and Pompeii

Artifacts and art objects

Created interest in things Greek
and Roman

The art of these civilizations

Considered by many scholars to be
representing the height of artistic
achievement.

What appealed the Neo-classical artists?

Not only the appearance but also the subjects
Greek and Roman characters, myths, and stories reappear in context of

theme and imageries

The somber, serious works represent the ideals of a style that often

aspired to high-minded statements - moralistic statements or stating right

or wrong

Artists combined fashion, politics, and a passion for antiquity to produce

the Neoclassical style.

Blending the classical and contemporary

Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825)

One of the most influential and prolific Neoclassical artist.
His ability to capture dramatic moments, and incredible talent and skill as a
painter made him an art legend.

Jacques-Louis David relied on ancient history and mythology.

With titles such as Andromache Mourning Hector, Paris and Helen, Lictors

bringing to Brutus the bodies of his sons, The Death of Socrates it is evident
that David looked to the past for inspiration.

Made the myths and legends come to life by using subjects in relevance to
the contemporary context.

The Death of Socrates

Lictors bringing to Brutus the bodies of his sons

Journey from the Baroque through Rococo to Neo Classical

Boucher, helped him in his early artistic development (1765).
He won the Prix de Rome in 1774 and spent six years in Rome.
It was during this period (1775-81) that he abandoned the manner of his

early work, with its Baroque use of chiaroscuro and diagonal compositions,
for a stark, highly finished and morally didactic style.

Influenced by the contemporary ideas in Rome and by artists such as

Hamilton - already experimenting with a Neoclassical idiom

In 1784 the change of style was confirmed by the Oath of the Horatii,

which inscribed the classical virtues of masculinity and patriotism, stoicism.

Oath of the Horatii

Painter of the Revolution

David perfectly captured the mood of the time in which he lived.
During

the French Revolution, David played an active role by producing

numerous and spectacular propaganda exercises.

Subjective response to an issue through art.

He also attempted to catalogue the new heroes of the age most successfully

in his portrayal of the Death of Marat (1793).

He

eventually fell victimized in the confused politics of the 1790s, and was
imprisoned after the fall of Robespierre (1794), and saved by the
intervention of his estranged (separated) wife, symbolized in his Intervention
of the Sabine Women (1799).

Death of Marat

Intervention
of the Sabine
Women

Search for new inspirations

In 1799 David gained a new hero.

Napoleon's demand for grandeur

loosened the seriousness of numerous

propaganda pieces that David portrayed

Napoleon in his study

With

the fall of Napoleon, David went into exile in Brussels, and his work
weakened as the possibility of exerting a moral and social influence receded.

Napoleon at St. Bernard