NEOCLASSICAL SCULPTURE: CHARACTERISTICS, REPRESENTATIVES AND WORKS - ART - 2025

The neoclassical sculpture was one of the artistic expressions that were part of Western movements related to decorative arts, theater, literature, music and architecture.

This art was inspired by the traditions of Greece and Rome. He acquired principles that supported a balanced composition with moralistic ideas, which went against the eccentricities of the decorative art known as Rococo.

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The greatest exponents of this type of sculpture had a great interest in the ancient and classical style. In addition, they favored compositions of great realism and remarkable symmetry.

Among the artists who were engaged in sculpture of this type were: Antonio Canova, Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, John Flaxman and Thomas Banks. The countries that best represented neoclassical sculpture were Italy, Denmark, France, the United States, England, Germany, Russia, Spain and Portugal.

Origin

Archaeological excavations

Neoclassicism was born in Rome in the mid-18th century with the rediscovery of the Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The popularity of the artistic movement spread throughout Europe thanks to a tour carried out by art students from the Old Continent.

The movement emerged most strongly around the same time in history as the Enlightenment period, in the 18th century. It was one of the most important of the time, like Romanticism, which was also an artistic movement originating in Europe.

This artistic trend took its first steps with the visual arts, which presented a completely opposite style to Rococo designs. Some of the sculptors, along with other artists of the time, followed in the footsteps of the Greek sculptor Phidias.

Despite this, the sculpture model that they most took into account when working was the Hellenistic one. It is considered that the artistic movements typical of Neoclassicism signified the rebirth of some styles and a theme that was inspired by the classical and that, in addition, reflected the development of both some sciences and the Enlightenment.

To this day, the characteristic art of neoclassicism continues to be used by some artists.

Influence of the Enlightenment

The birth of neoclassical sculpture arose from the ideals generated by the Enlightenment movement, which highlighted the importance of the use of ethics to achieve personal and social development. In addition, it sought to counteract the superstitions created in people's minds by religion.

On the other hand, the scholars of the time developed a greater interest in science. Theoretical advances, such as the realization of some publications on art and the formation of artistic collections, helped to educate society and expand its knowledge about the past, which generated interest.

In addition, the rediscovery of the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum allowed that, during the excavations process, pieces of the population that were in them were extracted, which helped to increase the knowledge of that society.

Interest in classical art gained strength after these advances, because artistic manifestations began to have more solid foundations. These allowed to develop a timeline, to establish the differences between the art of the Greeks and the Romans.

Shape

The artistic movements typical of Neoclassicism, among which sculpture was found, received a defined shape thanks to two books published by the art historian and archaeologist Johann Joachim Winckelmann.

Winckelmann's influential pieces were known as Reflections on the Imitation of Greek Works in Painting and Sculpture (1750) and History of Ancient Art (1764). These texts were the first to establish a clear difference between ancient Greek and Roman art.

The author admired Greek sculpture to the point of inviting artists of the time to be inspired by it in order to carry out their creations. He claimed that Greek art allowed a beautiful expression of nature, as well as the ideals of its beauty.

Political connotations

These sculptures are thought to have political implications; because the culture and democracy of Greece, as well as the republic of Rome, were the foundations that inspired the artists who promoted neoclassicism.

For this reason, it is considered that various countries such as France and the United States used the artistic movement to adopt it as a model that accompanied the state policy of both nations.

characteristics

Expressiveness

The exponents of neoclassical sculpture carried out their works in such a way that they reached an important expressiveness and a remarkable balance. This was mainly due to the intention of leaving aside the styles of the Rococo artistic manifestations.

The works of the time had characteristics that demonstrated the interest of the artists for the old and the classic.

Materials and process

The artists of this movement made sculptures with two main types of materials: bronze and white marble. These elements were widely used in ancient times due to their vast availability. However, there are records that indicate that some artists used other types of materials.

The exponents had a significant number of people who helped them to carry out the works, to the point of doing most of the work so that the sculptor only defined the final details of the work that he had previously designed.

Influence of Greece and Rome

The birth of Neoclassicism in Rome was an important factor for neoclassical sculpture to lay its foundations on Roman ideals. Some of the plastic artists made Roman copies of certain Hellenistic sculptures during the Neoclassic period.

The sculptors of the time carved his pieces in such a way that they reflected their interest in Hellenic and Roman artistic ideals.

Representatives and outstanding works

Antonio Canova

Considered one of the greatest exponents of neoclassicism, Antonio Canova was an Italian sculptor who was born in November 1757. The artist maintained an important connection with sculpture since he began working with another sculptor when he was 11 years old.

The sculptures he made represented an important realism that had a surface made in detail. This led to the artist being accused of using real human molds to make his works.

His work as a sculptor allowed him to make sculptures for the tombs of Popes Clement XIV and Clement XIII.

Venus Victrix and Theseus Victor and Minotaur

One of his most important works, Theseus the Victor and the Minotaur, was an artistic revolution for the time. The piece defined the end of the baroque era in relation to sculpture and set the trend for a Greek style for the realization of large-scale projects.

Another of his most important works was the sculpture he made of Napoleon Bonaparte's sister, Pauline Borghese, which was known as Venus Victrix. The piece shows the woman reclining on a sofa almost naked; it looks like a cross between a goddess with a classical style and a contemporary portrait.

Jean-Baptiste Pigalle

Another important figure in neoclassical sculpture, Pigalle was a French sculptor who was born in January 1714. The artist was known primarily for the variety of styles and originality of his works; his sculptures are considered to display, most of the time, features considered daring and charming.

Pigalle began receiving formal education to become an artist when he came of age.

Voltaire naked

One of his most important works was Voltaire Nude, and he aimed to make the philosopher known as an example to follow for future generations.

To make it, the sculptor took as a reference the image of a war veteran of the same age as the philosopher. Although the idea was initially rejected, it was soon accepted.

Coyau / Wikimedia Commons

The representation of Voltaire made a positive impression on the audience thanks to the realism expressed in his anatomy.

John flaxman

Known as one of the greatest representatives of neoclassical sculpture in England, John Flaxman was born in July 1755. His studies of classical literature were an important source of inspiration for future work.

This artist repeatedly sought to provide a moralistic sense to his creations. Furthermore, many of the pieces also had a religious sense.

Athamas Fury

One of his most important works was the sculpture that was called Fury of Athamas. In addition, he made designs for a monument commissioned by the Earl of Mansfield, which gave him a reputation as a large-scale sculptor.

The work tells, with a single image, the terrible story of King Athamas, who is possessed by the goddess of vengeance.

Thomas banks

He was an English sculptor who was born in December 1735. He learned to draw from his father and acquired knowledge of how to carve wood at a young age.

The activity brought Thomas Banks closer to sculpture, because in the moments when he had nothing to do, he learned the trade with another sculptor. He was the first English sculptor to carry out neoclassical works with strong conviction.

The artist enjoyed classical poetry, a hobby that became a source of inspiration for Banks.

Shakespeare assisted by painting and poetry

One of the most recognized works of Thomas Banks was Shakespeare assisted by painting and poetry, a sculpture that was sent to the home of the playwright. The piece was commissioned to be placed in the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, located on a London street.

It is recognized as one of the most important works of neoclassical sculpture in all of Europe, not just in the UK.

References

1. Classicism and Neoclassicism, Encyclopedia Britannica, (nd). Taken from britannica.com
2. Neoclassical sculpture, Spanish Wikipedia, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
3. Neoclassicism, Wikipedia in English, (nd). Taken from org
4. American Neoclassical Sculptors Abroad, Portal The Met Museum, (2004). Taken from metmuseum.org
5. Neoclassical Sculptors, Visual Arts Encyclopedia, (nd). Taken from visual-arts-cork.com
6. French Neoclassical Sculpture, Study Website, (nd). Taken from study.com
7. Antonio Canova, marchese d'Ischia, Encyclopedia Britannica, (nd). Taken from britannica.com
8. Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, Encyclopedia Britannica, (nd). Taken from britannica.com