Post 1

POST 1

Neoclassicism and Romanicism

In comparing Neoclassicism and Romanicism there can be many aspects to there styles that can distinguish these two movements from each other. First I will present examples of Neoclassicism with two significant paintings. Then there will be examples of Romanticism as well.The first piece is entitled, The Oath of the Horatii Between the Hands of Their Father, 1785 Oil on Canvas. By Jacques-Louis David. This piece is probably the best symbol of Neoclassicism. David was heavily influenced by some of the older Classicists in particular Joseph-Marie Vien who he had an apprenticeship with. In The Oath of the Horatii, David right away makes this painting stand out by doubling the size of the canvas in order to make this piece standout among all the others in the Salon, without seeking permission as well. 

 

The painting depicts three brothers from the Roman Horatius swearing alliegence to Rome and in the front of their father. They are the three champions who will face the three from Curiatii. In right foreground depicts the wife of the youngest horatius was also a sister to the Curaitii and his own sister was engaged to one of the victims. Some important aspects to this style of Neoclassicism in this painting is the background is not emphasized. It is dark and not well lit, the background. Instead all the emphasis is placed in the foreground which is where all the "action" is taking place and is where all the figures are to show how important they are.Their is a central point where the hands are and the clasping of the swords are which is located in front of the vanishing point. The inspiration comes from antiquity in Rome from an older version with the figures appearing very rigid and stoic. The subject is by itself very classical. Their is proper proportion and proper use of chiarascuro yet the characters in the foreground show little to know emotion.

 

 The technique is proportional with very smooth brush strokes as if their are none with simple muted colors as well. Although this is a piece depicting from a classical style and background it is also an uplifting and inspiring piece that can relate to a contemporary issue that had been going on in France at the time David was painting this piece. His depiction of the oath taking brought even more unity in a centralized way too, to this painting. In France a revolution was fast approaching and there was political discontent and David related the contemporary issues of his time with that of this old Roman theme of alliegence but of the united people of France going against the Monarchy.

 

The second piece is Death of Morat By Jacques Louis David. Oil on Canvas. In this painting David tributes this painting to Jean-Paul Morat who was a populist writer and deputy who was a hero among the organized sansculottes, a movement of artisans and workers in the poor neighborhoods of the city. Again, David is taking  Neoclassicism  a contemporary figure of his time. It shows him being assasinated by a fanatical counter-revolutionary assasin named Charlotte Corday. In it Morat is in a most vulnerable position of soaking in a bath due to a bad skin infection he had and his only relief was to take these baths which is when he would do most of his writings because it is when he felt the best. There is symbolism here and he does appear very vulnerable for a number of reasons. The knife on the floor and the stab wounds shows the brutality of the scene and what occured . It shows him apperaring to be in the middle of writing a "false letter" to a widow of a soldier who he was dispatching money too. Right away we see that the background is not emphasized  and everything is pushed or in the foreground. The way Morat is positioned in the bathtub and in the painting itself symbolizes martyrdom in an almost christ like way. This is definitely a piece to commemorate someone David himself alligned himself with politically and creates a feeling of console rather than inspirational.

 

The two Romanicism pieces are The Death of Sardanapalus, 1827. Oil on Canvas and The 28th of July: Liberty Leading the People, 1830. Oil on canvas. The Death of Sardanapalus shows the last Assyrian King commiting suicide and having everyone killed rather then surrendering and submitting to conquest. It shows the king arrogantly watching. All of the figures are free and expressive and you see alot of emotion on the figures faces. This is in contrast to the Oath of Horatii where the figures show no emotion and are extremely rigid and non expressive. This piece is inspired by a middle eastern theme rather then of a classical one like in The Oath of Horatii. The theme is chaotic and not organized with so much drama in the scene and a exotic theme.This and the overall composition is in direct contrast with the Neoclassicism style that has a very balanced and proportional composition. 

 

In  The 28th of July: Liberty Leading the People we have a young phebian who is barefooted who represents liberty and leading France into a new era seemingly stepping over the old guard. There is a pyramida composition in this piece and so much going on in the composition from a smoky background and shady figures in the background with the broad and rough brush strokes that gives it a more expressive feel to it compared to the Death of Morat. The figures in The 28th of July: Liberty Leading the People has alot of emotion in the figures faces as well and movement as if the painting is coming to life in comparison with the Neoclassicism style. Filled with rich colors and has a political aspect with the people overcoming the hardships and leading to a revolution. It has a dramatic, inspirational, and emotional role in that it depicts this epic scene of liberty leading the people to a greater glory in comparison with Death of Morat which gives off a console feeling and a tribute to an individual who was also important to the revolution of France. 

 Neoclassicism developed through a need to go back to a form of antiquity and a practice of rigid technique, but to also use this style to incorporate or rather to relate to contemporary issues having themes from Rome and the classical era and the people of France could rally around and relate too and inspire. Romanicism developed in response to Neoclassicism and a movement to directly showcase contemporary subjects in the paintings themeselves. Also the incorporating of more emotion and broad and rougher brush strokes with richer colors created even more expressiveness and emotion which was perhaps appropriate for what was going on at the time, especially in France with the french revolution. Overall I believed Romanicism prevailed due to the fact that people wanted to feel more expressive emotion from artwork, especially through contemporary subjects as well. The Neoclassicism was a movement that went backwards to go forwards, but Romanicism just went forward with the free, expressive, emotional, and intuitional values that not only showcased what and where the artist could go as far as value, tone, subject, and technique, but also how the contrast alone in style could effect the movement itself.

Works Cited

Nineteenth Century Art: A Critical History by Stephen Eisenman