The Neoclassicism It was an artistic movement that emerged in the 18th century inspired by the classical art of Roman and Greek cultures. Literature, visual arts and architecture emerged from the 18th century, but neoclassical music developed in the 20th century, between the world wars.
Neoclassicism was born from the great writings of the Prussian historian Johann Joachim Winckelmann, when the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were rediscovered after having spent years under the ashes.
The birth of the neoclassical style coincided with the Enlightenment during the 18th century; the ideals of these streams were of a similar nature. Both artistic currents shared characteristics of simplicity and reason..
In addition, Neoclassicism began as a form of debate against the extravagant artistic style of the Baroque and Rococo. At the time, both currents were losing popularity, since the ideals of beauty and perfection were identified more by the imitation of the classic.
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The origin of Neoclassicism is fundamentally attributed to the excavations carried out in the 18th century in Rome, Italy. After a series of archaeological procedures, the professionals found the ruins of the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
With the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius, both Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried by ash. Interest in classics surfaced when the old streets, villas and houses of these lost cities were discovered.
On the other hand, from the seventeenth century various people with great economic capabilities began to travel throughout Europe. Travelers looked forward to admiring the city of Rome and its artistic riches.
With the rise that was just beginning for the Greco-Roman, many historians (among them the Prussian Johann Joachim Winckelmann) were essential to theorize and deepen in the imitation of Greek and Roman works in the new artistic movements.
Hence, many French artists began to lean towards the classical. This gave rise to the formation of a new artistic movement: Neoclassicism. .
Winckelmann proposed the renewal of Greco-Roman ideas using simpler techniques, as opposed to the extravagant styles of the Baroque and Rococo. To achieve this, the artists opted to prioritize simplicity and not overload the works with decorative elements.
Baroque and Rococo stood out for their decorative and elegant character. New artists, mostly academics, emphasized highlighting history through art, as opposed to earlier styles that emphasized aesthetics.
The new neoclassical artists were based on the French classicist painter Nicolas Poussin, as opposed to the extremely decorative and sensual techniques of Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Neoclassicism was synonymous with "returning to purity" and served as a critique of previous styles..
During the 18th century, Europe was dominated by an intellectual and philosophical movement known as the Age of Reason or the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment included a range of ideas related to reason and academicism.
For this reason, Neoclassicism is considered as an evolution of the Enlightenment. Philosophers believed that destiny could be controlled through learning and artistic expressions. Neoclassicism resembles the Age of Reason because both reflect moderation and rational thinking.
The Enlightenment was characterized by its opposition to the monarchical system and ecclesiastical ideas; Neoclassicism took a similar stance: the movement revolved around man as the center of the world.
Neoclassicals described themes related to classical stories within their artistic expressions. In addition, somber colors with bright highlights were used, occasionally with the intention of conveying moral narratives and personal sacrifices..
The man became the protagonist of most artistic creations. Its representation was based on the ideal of beauty and perfection, as was the case in classical art. Neoclassical architecture was simple, symmetrical, orderly, and less grand than Baroque or Rococo..
Neoclassical buildings lacked domes, as in ancient Greece; otherwise, the ceilings were flat with few ornamental elements. In addition, the Doric and Ionic order prevailed, which were used by classical architects.
Neoclassical literary structures were characterized by the imitation of ancient Greek writers such as Homer or Petrarch. Winckelmann proposed a notion with which he posited that young artists could only become recognized if they were based on works of the past.
The style that predominates in Neoclassicism is based on simplicity, aesthetics and symmetry. Neoclassicism uses reason, so that in most artistic expressions the real themes or situations that occurred at the time prevailed..
Neoclassicism was born in part as a critique of the asymmetry and extravagant ornamentation of the Baroque and Rococo. Influenced by the Enlightenment Era, Neoclassicism was loaded with symbolism (truth as the central axis and two figures such as reason and philosophy).
In neoclassical music, it was avoided to reflect exaggerated emotions and heavy melodies. Seeks the natural and differs from the repeated chords of the Baroque.
The neoclassical was a style that stood out for expressing the political, economic and social situation that was lived in Europe. In the case of literature, it had a strong orientation towards the didactic and moralizing.
Still, not everything was based on reason and logic. Its main themes were strongly related to Greek, Roman mythology and the gods of ancient civilizations..
The exaltation of the nude or semi-nude prevailed in both painting and sculpture - generally of man - as a symbol of beauty and perfection. This use is similar to that used in ancient Greece.
On the other hand, it is also attributed the historical theme, especially the French Revolution that was brewing in parallel at that time. For this reason, many of the neoclassical artistic works refer to the revolution.
Furthermore, Napoleon Bonaparte used art as a means of political propaganda. In this sense, the battles were captured in many paintings, as were the sacrifices of the heroes and the general values of the revolution..
The rise of neoclassical literature took place between 1660 and 1798. The writers of the neoclassical period tried to imitate the style of the ancient Romans and Greeks. The influence of the Enlightenment is reflected in the logical, didactic and reason characteristics.
Neoclassical literature is characterized by the order, precision, and structure of its texts. In opposition to Renaissance literature, man was seen as a good and sin-free being, while for the neoclassical the human was a defective and sinful being. An attempt was made to imitate the prose of the renowned Greek writer Cicero.
The literary people of the movement gave more relevance to social needs than to individual ones, since they believed that man could find true meaning through society. The use of literature as a social tool was proposed.
In addition, he rejected the fantasy theme and leaned more towards topics that generate new knowledge. For neoclassical writers, works should have a didactic and moralizing intention. They believed that, through literary works, readers could educate themselves and feel part of a greater feat.
Parody, fables, satires, essays and melodramas were the best known and most popular genres during the neoclassical.
Alexander Pope was an English writer and poet, characterized as one of the great exponents of neoclassical literature during the 18th century. He is recognized for his satirical verses such as the works titled Essay on Criticism, The lock breach Y The Dunciada.
Pope was not accepted in many institutions for his Catholicism at a time of boom for the Protestant Church, having to study on his own and with private teachers. In 1709 he published his first work, entitled Pastoral. Through this work the influence of Horacio's classicism was known and he was recognized as one of the main satirical poets.
Essay on Criticism it is one of the most important poems written by Alexander Pope. It was first published on May 15, 1711 anonymously. The poem was written in a unique poetic form, new for the time, as an attempt to identify the position of critical poet.
This poem was a response to a debate on the question of whether poetry should be natural or written according to rules inherited from the classical past. The work begins with a discussion of the rules that govern poetry to start this debate.
From there, various dialogues and comments on classical authors such as Virgil, Homer, Aristotle and Horace develop..
Neoclassical architecture was the first expression that faced the extravagance of the Baroque and Rococo. It tended to emphasize its flat elements, rather than the sculptural and excessively ornate volumes..
The simplicity in its architectural designs was the first characteristic and the one that differentiates it from previous styles. Neoclassical architecture featured elements of Greco-Roman architecture: its columns had particular characteristics of the Doric and Ionic order.
The façade of the neoclassical buildings was characterized by having a series of columns with flat and symmetrical shapes. The decorations of the exterior of the buildings were minimal and simple.
Jean Chalgrin was a French architect known for being one of the most prominent representatives of neoclassical architecture. Chalgrin was the one who designed the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France.
His tendency to Neoclassicism was influenced by the Franco-Italian architect Giovani Niccolo Servandoni. In addition, his stay in Rome allowed him to interact with other classicists influenced by the architect Giovanni Battista Piranesi and by the texts of Winckelmann..
Following the marriage of the Count of Provence, who later became the King of France, Chalgrin was appointed the King's architect. He designed the Pavillon de Musique at Versailles for the Countess. The building remains today and is a clear example of neoclassical architecture.
The Arch of Triumph It is one of the most popular memorials in the world and was designed by architect Jean Chalgrin. Its construction took place between 1806 and 1836. It is located in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle in Paris, France.
Napoleon Bonaparte was the one who commissioned the construction of the triumphal arch, after the great victory of the Battle of Austerlitz during the Napoleonic Wars. The reason for the construction was to celebrate the achievements of the French army.
The Arch is 50 meters high and 45 meters wide; It is surrounded by a circular plaza with 12 avenues that form a star. The façade has relatively simple ornamental elements where symmetry plays a fundamental role..
Like other artistic expressions, neoclassical painting addressed Greco-Roman characteristics in terms of style and subject matter. Many of the mythological stories were represented in neoclassical compositions.
Beyond expressing the artistic, neoclassical painting was based on the educational as a consequence of the enlightened movement that prevailed in Europe. Later, the French Revolution gained momentum and the paintings focused on depicting the episodes of the battles and other commemorative events.
Like the art of ancient Greece, nudes predominated, albeit in a more subtle way. On the other hand, the use of lighting that evokes the dramatic prevailed. In these works the leading role is achieved through the use of chiaroscuro; usually used on a character located in the center of the artistic composition.
Jacques Louis David is known to be a representative of neoclassical painting. With him a much more rigorous and pure school was founded, as regards neoclassical compositions in France. David became more interested in narrative than in technique.
After winning a scholarship to study at the French Academy in Rome, he began to distinguish himself among his peers. During his stay in Rome he painted one of the most recognized works within the neoclassical movement: The oath of the Horatii.
With the outbreak of the French Revolution, David used the main ideals of the conflict to embody the values of simplicity, heroism and freedom. The death of Marat, one of his most outstanding works, it became one of the reference images of the revolution.
The oath of the Horatii It is one of Jacques Louis David's paintings completed in 1784. Currently, the composition is exhibited in the Louvre Museum in Paris and is known as one of the most representative paintings of the neoclassical style..
The piece refers to the scene of a Roman legend about the conflict between two cities: Rome and Alba Longa. In the painting there are three brothers (the Horatii), who ask to sacrifice themselves in exchange for saving Rome.
Through this work, David refers to the values of the Enlightenment alluding to Rousseau's social contract. The republican ideal of the general will suggested by Rousseau became the focus of the painting with the three sons positioned opposite the father. The work is interpreted as an act of unifying men for the good and the union of the state.
Neoclassical music developed in the 20th century, particularly in the period between the two world wars. Neoclassical composers were inspired by the music of the 18th century, which is also referred to as baroque music..
The neoclassical canon was inspired by the baroque and classical periods. The artists used the French Revolution as their main source of inspiration. Igor Stravinsky and Paul Hindemith were the composers who led the emergence of this style in France.
Musical Neoclassicism presented a tendency to return to the aesthetic precepts associated with the classicist concepts of order, balance, clarity, economy and emotional restriction. It was a reaction against the unbridled emotionalism and formlessness of romanticism.
Igor Stravinsky was a Russian composer known for being one of the leading representatives of neoclassical music alongside Paul Hindemith. In addition, he is known for his three popular compositions in the neoclassical style: The Firebird, Patrushka and The Rite of Spring.
These groundbreaking compositions, also known as "ballets," reinvented the classical and baroque style genre. Before adopting the neoclassical style, he made several compositions of the classical style, mainly pieces by Mozart and Bach, but with much simpler combinations.
Although he started the new movement without being officially announced, his work Clipped octet It is considered the beginning of the neoclassic style in his compositions. Ironically, it was Stravinsky himself who announced the death of neoclassical music after classifying it as a "backward" style..
The Firebird is a ballet by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky that was presented for the first time in Paris on June 25, 1910. This composition became the first international success of the composer's career, being an innovative and different piece.
The ballet is based on the Russian legend of the firebird, a powerful magical bird whose feathers convey beauty and protection to Earth..
While the story's popular origins inspired Stravinsky to borrow some popular melodies from his score, the rest of the ballet was his own creation..
When Stravinsky finished his piece, the most famous ballet dancers in Paris began to prepare the choreography for the performance..
The dancer who would play the role of Firebird refused to participate in the role, as she detested Stravinsky's music. He never imagined that the play would be a resounding success.
Neoclassical sculpture was born as a spontaneous reaction against the extravagances of Baroque and Rococo sculptors. In addition, it was based on the imitation of Greek, Roman and even Renaissance sculptures; especially in the works of Michelangelo.
It was characterized by the sculptures of naked bodies of both men and women, typical of classical cultures made with white marble. Like neoclassical painting, sculptors attempted to recreate scenes that reflected theatrical drama and pain in a natural way..
The neoclassical sculptors had a series of assistants in charge of doing the heavier work, while the artist was only in charge of doing the touch-ups and finishes..
Antonio Canova was an Italian sculptor known for being one of the greatest representatives of the neoclassical style and noted for his sculptures.
The artist made the tombs of the popes Clement XIV and Clement XIII, as well as statues of Napoleon Bonaparte and his sister Princess Borghese. He was named Marquis for the recovery of works of art after Napoleon's defeat.
Between 1812 and 1816, he sculpted one of the most recognized neoclassical statues, titled Three graces. The sculpture was based on a set of three semi-nude female figures representing the daughters of Zeus. The three women are symbols of the beauty, joy and charm of classical culture.
Venus Victrix It is a sculpture by Antonio Canova made between 1805 and 1808. The sculpture was commissioned by the husband Pauline Bonaparte, the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. The sculpture features Princess Pauline disguised as Venus, the Roman goddess.
With that work, Canova revived the ancient Greco-Roman traditions of placing mortal characters disguised as gods. The only thing that is not clear is whether Pauline Bonaparte actually posed nude, since it is believed that the only part of the sculpture that resembles the royal figure of the princess is the head.
In the sculpture, the princess holds an apple that evokes the triumph of Aphrodite in the judgment of Paris.
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