Neoclassical Art Notes

Neoclassical Art

Introduction

  • Neoclassicism: A modern take on classical art from Rome and Greece, reminiscent of the Renaissance.
  • Time period: Marked by revolutions like the American and French Revolutions, both based on ideas of representation, rights of man, and justice.
  • Enlightenment ideas: Advocated for leadership based on reason rather than aristocracy or monarchy.
  • Influence: Neoclassicism influenced art and government, drawing inspiration from the Roman Republic and Athenian democracy.

Objectives

  • Discuss neoclassical painting.
  • Appraise the role of the Enlightenment in neoclassical art.
  • Examine neoclassical architecture in the United States.

Key Terms

  • Jacques Louis David: Artist
  • Oath of the Horatii: Painting
  • Jean Antoine Houdon: Sculptor
  • Thomas Jefferson: Architect
  • Monticello: Architectural example

Jacques Louis David and "Oath of the Horatii"

  • David: A neoclassical painter who used historical events to comment on contemporary issues.
  • "Oath of the Horatii" (1784):
    • Story: Set in 7th century BCE Rome, depicting three Horatii brothers vowing to fight to the death to settle a land dispute.
    • Symbolism: Represents sacrificing for the state, reflecting the French Revolution.
    • Composition: Divided into three sections: brothers, father, and weeping women, representing different groups in society.
    • Architectural elements: Doric columns and rounded arches organize the painting.

Neoclassical Sculpture: Jean Antoine Houdon and George Washington

  • Houdon: Combined neoclassicism with naturalism in his sculptures.
  • George Washington Sculpture:
    • Combination of classicism and naturalism.
    • Washington's stance: Contrapposto (S-shaped curve), a relaxed and serene look, but dressed in his general's uniform.
    • Fasci: A bundle of 13 rods tied together with an axe head, symbolizing authority and the 13 original colonies.

Neoclassical Architecture in the United States

  • Examples: United States Capitol Building and Monticello.
  • Inspiration: Architectural details extracted from ancient Greek and Roman temples, and the Renaissance.
  • Significance: Represented new republics and Enlightenment ideals.
  • Similarities between the US Capitol Building and Monticello:
    • Symmetrical design.
    • Pediment and portico front.
    • Doric or Corinthian columns.
    • Capped with a dome.
  • Monticello:
    • Designed by Thomas Jefferson in two phases (1769-1782 and post-1796).
    • Influenced by European art and Enlightenment ideas.
    • Features: Central pediment, Doric columns, entablature, balustrade, and a dome.
    • Inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome.

Jacques Louis David and "The Death of Marat"

  • "The Death of Marat" (1793):
    • Marat: A radical French journalist who supported the French Revolution.
    • Murder: Assassinated by Charlotte Corday in his bathtub.
    • David's Depiction: Focuses on the somber aftermath rather than the struggle.
    • Symbolism:
      • Marat's crate becomes his tombstone.
      • Marat portrayed as a martyr, with a drooping arm reminiscent of Christ in Michelangelo's Pieta and Caravaggio's Entombment.
      • Letter and quill pen: Represents Marat's commitment to his cause.
    • Caravaggian Influence: Use of light and darkness to create drama.

Conclusion

  • Neoclassicism: Reflected the Enlightenment, empowerment of reason, and commentaries on society and governance.
  • Legacy: Laid the foundation for future art movements.