Neoclassicism vs. Romanticism

Neoclassicism and Romanticism are two different forms of artistic movements that developed during the 18^th and 19^th century. Neoclassicism was inspired by both Greek and Roman classical art, sculpture, architecture, and culture. Romanticism was an effect brought on by the Industrial Revolution, and was used as a form of rebellion against the aristocracy and their political views. Its main focus was to depict scenes of revolt, and/or political issues through visual works portraying actual current events, or at times metaphorically depicting works that represented scenes from antiquity. The Oath of The Horatii by Jacques-Louis David, and Death of Sardanapalus by Eugene Delacroix are prime examples of the visual works representing the Neoclassic and Romantic style.

The Oath of the Horatii depicts three warriors pledging their allegiance to the Roman Republic. This visual work was commissioned to represent the reaction to the ongoing revolution of the time; it symbolizes a call to arms and represents the greatness of man and his power. The Oath of the Horatii is a great reference to neoclassical art by its use of classical artistic references to evoke the feel, and style of the works relatively familiar to Greek and Roman classical art, and sculptures. It portrays these classical references through its use of idealized forms, perfect proportions, and the use of shadow, and contrast to bring life to the work.

Death of Sardanapalus depicts a scene of the Assyrian king Sardanapalus and his harem. It portrays the savage slaughter of his concubines and the destruction of his possessions, as ordered by him, when he receives knowledge that he is in danger of military defeat. Death of Sardanapalus is a prime example of Romantic art through its use of emotional extremes, and heightened sensation, portraying moments of life, death, and emotion. You get a sense of this through the intensity of the lighting, and the highly expressive fluidity of the painting, representing the intensity of the artistic works of the Romantic era, but also through the representation, and focus of people at a height of their life, and others at their ultimate death.

Neoclassicism and Romanticism are both representations of two very different styles and movements, and can be considered worst enemies. Neoclassicism portrayed the reality of life. Romanticism represented life through a series of intense extremes, and emotions brought on by the industrial revolution, which helped in bringing forth the Romantic art movement. There was a great clash between these two forms of art, but in the end Romanticism prevailed, and was considered the dominant style of the period.

In the end, Neoclassicism and Romanticism were both politically influenced and were used to bring about change through their artistic representations. One focused on the culture, aesthetics, and stylization of a classical era. The other portrayed the political views, and perspectives of the artists brought on by the revolution, to fight oppressing figures. Nevertheless, both were movements that introduced society to the political views of these artists, and how they felt about their current environment and the events occurring in their time frame. 

Jacques-Louis David, Oath of The Horatii, 1784, Neoclassism

Eugene Delacroix, Death of Sardanapalus, 1827, Romanticism

References:

Eisenman, Stephen, and Thomas E. Crow. Nineteenth Century Art: A Critical History. London: Thames and Hudson, 1994. Print.

Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner's Art through the Ages. a Global History. Boston, MA: Thomson, 2009. Print.

*Name of visual works link to image source.