Romanticism vs. Neoclassicism

There are distinct differences between Neoclassicism and Romanticism seen through various works of art, specifically, how they differ in style and technique. Neoclassicism also known as the “revival of styles” incorporates inspirations from the classical period whereas Romanticism is defined as the reaction against the Enlightenment period with emphasis on emotion and artistic expressions.

      There will be four works of art that I will be comparing with the first being Jacques Louis-David’s the Death of Marat and Eugene Delacroix’s Death of Sardanapalus.  In the Death of Marat, David depicts the death of Jean Marat, as he lies dead in a tub while holding a letter in his hand. He paints his last moments of life whereas in Death of Sardanapalus, Delacroix depicts the last king of Assyria who is about to die after losing his final battle. There is chaos surrounding him as everything he possesses is being destroyed and his women are being ravaged. David’s painting of the Death of Marat is a great example of Neoclassicism because the figure is idealized but statue-like as he lies in the tub. Although Marat was known to have a skin condition there’s no presence of it in the painting.

      He looks very calm and collective as David makes him look Christ-like whereas the Death of Sardanapalus is a great example of Romanticism because Delacroix is painting a contemporary setting that’s dramatic and chaotic. There’s no specific focal point because the viewer’s attention is drawn to the entire canvas. He elevates a series of emotions including death and fear as it unfolds before the king’s eyes. He uses soft brushstrokes that delivers a sense of fluidity in his lines whereas in the Death of Marat, David doesn’t use any brushstrokes. The figure’s arm is elongated as he seen almost leaning out of the tub just as the light in the room hits his face.

     Another comparison I will make will be between Jean Auguste-Ingres’s Grand Odalisque and Theodore Gericault’s Raft of Medusa. In Grand Odalisque, Ingres depicts a woman in the nude who is seated in a languid pose as seen from behind. There’s an influence of mannerism in the painting because the woman has a small head with disproportionate proportions with one arm elongated while the other is hidden. She’s upfront to the picture plain with her attention away from the viewer whereas in the Raft of Medusa it depicts the aftermath of the wreck of the French naval that crashed and left numerous men adrift at sea. The men who survived this disastrous event endured dehydration, starvation, cannibalism and insanity. This is a great example of Romanticism because the whole scene is dramatic with all the figures in the foreground.

Its dynamic because you get a sense of movement in the men’s clothing as well as in the background. Gericault uses very soft brushstrokes and vibrant colors to elevate the scenes as he paints it. It’s a dramatic distinction from Neoclassicism’s calm, classical style because Gericault brings fear and vulnerability into his painting. He creates an event that’s real and fills the canvas with actual men that went through experience. Ingres’s composition is static as the woman is in a very posed position whereas in Gericault’s composition has a sense fluidity and energy in his figures. He brings life to his canvas with his perfect proportions and dramatic facial expressions on his figures’ faces. 

     

Here's a link more background information on the differences between these two time periods.

http://www.essential-humanities.net/western-art/western-painting/neoclassical-and-romantic-painting/