Neo-Classical and Romantic Art Contrasts.

    Neo-Classicism and Romanticism Contrasts.

 During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the art world in Europe went through a series of seemingly drastic changes that reflected the political and social upheavals of the time period. During the early part of the  18th century the Rococo era in art was reacting to the Baroque era. In reaction to the lightheartedness of the Rococo, the Neo-Classical era in art came about. One era of art made an action (their art) and the next era in art reacted to these actions. Thus was the case with Neo-Classicism and Romanticism.

    The Neo-Classical artists  in the latter part of the 18th century and early part of the 19th century made art that were representing stories from the past and even contemporary events. Most of this form of art was merely art imitating life and history, all in classical canons of proportion. On the other hand the Romantic artists of the middle to latter part of the 19th century made art that not only represented what the artists saw around them or saw in history, but how they felt about what they saw or heard. 

     To illustrate this view point I shall compare two artists who represent both of these movements in art, Neo-Classicism and Romanticism. I will compare their artwork and what they represented and how the represent the movements.  The first painting is called "Mars Being Disarmed by Venus and the three Graces" and was painted in 1824 by Jacques-Louis David. It represents the tendency of artists during the Neo-Classicism movements to return to classical canons of proper proportions and grand themes. It was a reaction to the Rococo artists disregard for proper proportion and creation of space. This kind of strictness and seriousness that artists such as David inflicted on their art will be reacted to by the Romantic artists. Though David sometimes used Classical themes to criticize the society the Romantic artists take this criticism of life to another level.

David. Mars Being Disarmed by Venus and the three Graces. 1824. Neo-Classicism.

    In stark contrast to David, Francisco de Goya's "Charles IV of Spain and His Family" is a departure from the Neo-Classical artists' tendency to idealize their subjects and make them look heroic. In this portrait of the   Royal family, Goya draws them fat and not perfect and muscular as some other artists have done Royal figures. Some artists in the past drew Royal subjects looking majestic and highly heroic such as David's painting "Napoleon at Saint Bernard Pass" which was done in 1800. Whereas David's painting flatters the subject, Goya's shows how he felt about his subjects and does not stroke their egos. 

Goya. Charles IV of Spain and His Family. 1800. Romanticism.

Another one of Goya's painting (one of his most famous) shows how he felt about society by using a Classical theme but painting it in such a way that it might have scared his audience at the time. This painting is called "Saturn Devouring His Son." This painting which was done in 1819-23 was a criticism of the society and the way Goya saw it. It represents the aristocracy and politicians of the time eating up the citizens of the society though they are in charge of these citizens.

Goya. Saturn Devouring his Son. 1819-23. Romanticism.

     To conclude what I have written I say, that it seems as if every movement in art is reacting to the previous movement. Every artist chooses to represent himself and what he things of the world around him and the way hes sees it. Starting with Romanticism, artists really let the world know what they thought and how the felt. To this day some of the art from the Romantic period speaks to western society as a whole. Why? Because the more things change, the more they stay the same.