NEOCLASSICISM: CHARACTERISTICS, LITERATURE, ARCHITECTURE, PAINTING - ART - 2025

The Neoclassicism was an artistic movement that emerged in the eighteenth century inspired by the classic 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.

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

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 trends were losing popularity, as the ideals of beauty and perfection were identified more by the imitation of the classic.

Origin

Return to the classic

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 ashes. The interest in the classic came to the fore 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 (including the Prussian Johann Joachim Winckelmann) were essential to theorize and deepen 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.

Return to simplicity

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.

The 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 earlier styles.

Age of Enlightenment

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 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 restraint 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.

characteristics

Greco-Roman influence

Neoclassicals described themes related to classical stories within their artistic expressions. Additionally, somber colors with bright highlights were used, occasionally with the intention of conveying moral narratives and personal sacrifices.

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.

The 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.

Prevalence of simplicity and simplicity

The style that predominates in Neoclassicism is based on simplicity, aesthetics and symmetry. Neoclassicism uses reason, which is why 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.

Thematic

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 and 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.

Literature

characteristics

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 neoclassicals the human was a defective and sinful being. It was sought to imitate the prose of the renowned Greek writer Cicero.

The literary men 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

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 entitled Essay on criticism, The violation of the lock and La 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 Pastorales. 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

These innovative compositions, also known as "ballets," reinvented the genre of classical and baroque styles. Before adopting the neoclassical style, he made several compositions in the classical style, mostly pieces by Mozart and Bach, but with much simpler combinations.

Although he started the new movement without being officially announced, his work Octeto curtado is considered the beginning of the neoclassicist 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

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 popular origins of the story inspired Stravinsky to borrow some popular melodies from his score, the rest of the ballet was his own creation.

Ivan Bilibin

When Stravinsky finished his piece, the most famous ballet dancers in Paris began preparing 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. She never imagined that the play would be a resounding success.

Sculpture

"Ganymede with the Eagle of Jupiter" by Bertel Thorvaldsen (1817)

characteristics

Neoclassical sculpture was born as a spontaneous reaction against the extravagances of the 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 tried 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

«Apollo crowning», marble sculpture made by Antonio Canova (1781)

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, entitled 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 beauty, joy and charm of classical culture.

Venus Victrix

Venus Victrix is ​​a sculpture by Antonio Canova made between 1805 and 1808. The sculpture was commissioned by husband Pauline Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte's sister. The sculpture features Princess Pauline disguised as Venus, the Roman goddess.

With this 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.

Source: es.wikipedia.org

In the sculpture, the princess holds an apple that evokes the triumph of Aphrodite in the judgment of Paris.

References

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