FRQ Rococo, Age of Enlightenment, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Hudson River School

The Swing Artist

Jean-Honore Fragonard

The Swing Period

Rococo

The Swing Dates

1767 CE

The Swing Culture

France

The Swing Material

Oil on canvas

A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery Artist

Joseph Wright of Derby

A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery Period

Age of Enlightenment

A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery Dates

1763-1765 CE

A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery Culture

England

A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery Material

Oil on canvas

Monticello Artist

Thomas Jefferson

Monticello Period

Neoclassical

Monticello Dates

1768-1809 CE

Monticello Culture

Virginia, USA

Monticello Material

Brick, glass, stone, wood

Oath of Horatii Artist

Jacques-Louis David

Oath of Horatii Dates

1784 CE

Oath of Horatii Period

Neoclassical

Oath of Horatii Culture

France

Oath of Horatii Material

Oil on canvas

The Swing Visual

woman is kicking off her shoe, a sign of frivolity
elderly represents loyalty, fidelity, marriage
dog in right represents loyalty, not what the woman represent
the baron is looking up the woman’s skirts
cupid statue is keeping quiet about the baron’s secret (woman is cheating on the elderly man)
lines are curvy linear without visible brushstrokes
pastel colors
artificial, lighthearted, erotic
fete galante image
garden is fertile, lush, out of control
contributes to the sensuality of the painting

The Swing Contextual

commissioned by a member of aristocracy, Baron de St. Julian
baron wanted a painting of his lover on the swing
originally wanted a bishop in the background, pushing the swing
instead, the artist painted an elderly man pulling swing with string
elderly man is in control of swing, but the baron and woman are having fun in secret
aristocracy enjoyed this kind of art
height of aristocracy’s richness
this is what Enlightenment thinkers are going to oppose
they want more virtuous and heroic art

A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery Visual

center of the image is an orrery, a mechanical model of the solar system
large metal rings simulate eclipses, sun is a lamp

A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery Contextual

Wright specialized in dramatically lit scenes
tenebrism influence from Carvaggio
Wright is the unofficial artist of the Enlightenment
shift from traditional religious models of the universe to more scientific approach
artists were a part of the Lunar Society, which discussed scientific topics
painting reflects empirical observation grounded in science, and reason can best advance society
Enlightenment ideals
anti-aristocracy, anti Rococo art

Monticello Visual

dome is based on Pantheon dome
deep portico with doric columns
large front porch
pediment on top with half window
columns and the dome visually heighten the building
balustrade is on the roofline and creates a sense of horizontality
classical elements and triglyphs and metopes (also on Parthenon)

Monticello Contextual

Jefferson was US administer to France during the US revolution
had the opportunity to visit classical and neoclassical architecture
becomes secretary of state under Washington
Jefferson believed that art promotes change in society
focuses on new classical art to focus on patriotism and civic virtue, since Greeks made democracy
Grand Tour was a tour by upper class in Europe to focus on art by Ancient Greece and Rome

Oath of Horatii Visual

sons bodies are rigid and geometrical
sons are pledging allegiance to Rome
women are sad and depressed
women have curvy bodies
Roman atrium with Roman arches in background

Oath of Horatii Contextual

story of Oath of Horatii comes from Roman legend
Romans battle with Alba
Romans used the Horatii family (3 sons) to fight the Curatii family, which represents Alba
done instead of a full war
a sister of the Horatiis is married to the Curatii family, while one Curatii woman is married to one Horatii family
at the end, the last Horatii son kills his sister because he killed her Curatii husband
sacrifice and duty to Rome over sentiment
example of Neoclassical history paintings
provides examples of virtuous behavior, like personal sacrifice
didactic content
country before love
patron was King of France, Louis XVI
intended for painting to promote loyalty to France, but French revolution was about to happen
some people saw this painting as a revolution/call to arms painting
David supports the French Revolution and Robespierre’s Reign of Terror
arrested and executed people that weren’t supportive of the revolution
should FR be monarchy or democracy? was message that David painted