Neo - means 'new' and classicism refers to the principals and attitudes shown in architecture and art that are characterized by the form and proportion as well as the cleaner lines used.

	A new style in art emerges...
	Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, Portrait of Nepolian 1, 1860, 260 × 163 cm, Paris, Museum of l'Armee

Rules and Restrictions...

Neo-Classicism was an art movement that placed many rules and restrictions on the 'styles' of artists. Artists who painted in this 'style' were bound by strict rules to show technical mastery and paint to a classical model to 'fit' a particular newer look. Much of Neo-classical paintings were greatly influenced by a return to the Greek and Roman themes and ideals of antiquity. During the Napoleonic Empire this style flourished. So much so that society and the up and coming middle classes embraced the Grecian taste. It has been suggested that many furnishings and fabrics, as well as jewelry and many fashions were overtaken by the 'grecian ' influence. Overall the Neo-classical movement held the 'classics' in higher regard'. They adhered strictly to more traditional and conservative beliefs.

Decorative Arts...

Neo-classicism also played a very important role in the 'Decorative Arts'. Empire furnishings were crafted showing motifs and the line of designs that can easily be identified as coming from this period. Interior decorating and architecture took on a Roman and Greek appearance with many cleaner lines showing less decorative relief as was previously popular during the Rococo period when everything seemed to be 'overdone' and quite flowery.

It is interesting to follow how and what influenced these trends, where it was thought that Neo-classicism was born out of a reaction to the 'over the top' earlier Rococo period, and similarly where Romanticism was a reaction to the un-emotional appearance and structure of the Neo-classicism style which came before it.

Antonio Maria Esquivel, Porträt der Doña Josefa García Solis,1852,

Leinwand, 210 × 157 cm
Madrid, Museum Romantico, Spain

During the late eighteenth century, Neo-classicism was the result of a revolutionary phase, this art movement has been described as a return to primitive simplicity and purity. It has also been described as a new 'Reconnaissance' and has come to be known as a decorative style.

The journalist and well known author, Hugh Honor wrote of the Neo-classical period, "that a wind of change began to sweep through the Parisian salons, freshening up their close and perfumed atmospheres, smoothing out Rococo curves and curlicues, blowing away the delicately fragile ornaments, rosebuds and shells, and powdered cupids with their behinds as delicately roughed as their cheeks..."

Growing Middle Classes...

It was a rejection and as well a revulsion against the Rococo period and everything that was associated with it. The art world seemed to take on a more serious tone. The tastes of the aristocratic's seemed to hold on to a sophisticated way of life, but the newer Neo-classicism philosophies appealed to the growing middle classes.

During this period of change, the critics scour ned the Rococo style with heavy criticism of artists who continued to paint this earlier style. The Rococo style which suggested the more feminine styled subject matter was also opposite to the styles being embraced by this new movement that it is easy to understand why Rococo was perhaps rejected. As a result there was suspicion cast on those who still embraced the painterly style of a grand life. Many of the artists were advised, 'to dip their brush in intellect'. Artists were able to use this division as a way to elevate themselves and their perceived role in the new society of the times.

Changes in the style of popular painting were quite dramatic, the palettes changed colors from ones that were described as 'powdery' to more dramatic and serious tones. It seams the Rococo period had been responsible for making landscapes, still-life, and genre scenes more popular and sociably acceptable in the long list of popular painting topics. During the Neoclassicism period, history painting became the most important genre, even more so than portraits fetching the largest sums for their commissions.

Artists are seen as educators...

During the Neoclassicism period, artists were also seen as new educators, it was believed that they had a moral obligation to be on an educative mission. An article that was written in a well known French journal named The Encyclopedie stated that a work of art owes its interests to its moral and social content and the artist must therefore be both a philosopher and an honest man. The power of the Churches was on the decline and yet there was still a preoccupation with education. Religious concepts of virtue and vice often led to themes that created interest in more human qualities such as kindness and charity for the poor.

Times were certainly changing and out of this movement of Enlightenment came a more educated class of people. Art appreciation and interest in antiquity was the social order of the day. The hierarchy of the social structure and the rulers of the day believed that their order would be judged and remembered more for their art and literature than the landmarks they left as their legacy. This soon lead to the development of museums for their large collections of art.

 

The first museum was built in Europe...

The Landgrave Frederick of Cassel began in 1769 and soon housed over one hundred paintings and it was opened to the public and to art students. Academies (schools of art) that were few and far between soon began showing up everywhere and by 1790 there were over one hundred Academies build between Leningrad and the United States, in Philadelphia. These schools began to replace the studios of the Great Masters and the style of art education also began to change. Where craftsmanship had been the main focus of the studios and students were expected to Apprentice under the watchful eye of a 'Master', these new Academies apparently stressed theory and a more academic focus.

Society was changing and with this change came the louder and more politically powerful voice of the middle classes. Their quest for a more intellectual life, soon defined a taste for the arts. It was this interest in serious subjects that fueled their desire to learn more about art history. A new pastime developed - reading for pleasure and for education. At that time we also see the birth of the novel or 'book'. As society was evolving so too was greater interest in museums and as a result several were built in the larger cities of Italy, London, and Paris.

During the latter part of the century, the social status of the artist also changed. Prior to this the artist was a craftsman who was under the control of the patrons of whom many were wealthy and often could be demanding. Instead, the artist with his newly respected profession was soon recognized as a member of the community.

The ' Academie' provided the artists with a professional defence and provided them with a way to distinguish themselves from other artisans and craftsmen. In many ways it helped to liberate artists from the exploits of the patrons adding greater value to their work and their profession. The growing middle classes created a demand for portraits. Previously, artists had featured everyone's portraits in the same manner as the nobility and wealthy sitters for whom they painted. However that was soon to change. New sitters requested that they be painted in a more natural state or style, without any added affection. So the new look for formal portraits was simplified.

In summary, the Neo-classical period changed the structure of society dramatically and as a result its art and architecture. It is believed that it may have had the greatest effect on the emergence of the' modern' Europe and what we now understand as North American society.

 

Reference; Neo-Classicism by Hugh Honour, Style and Civilization

Reference; Seventeenth Century Painting by Raymond Cogniat

Reference; Neoclassicism A&I: Art and Ideas by David Irwin ISBN: 071483369X

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Paint media – oil

Art work – History paintings and portraits.

Palette: serious and sombre palettes that were simplified.

Artists – Andrea Appiani, Jacques-Louis David, Joseph Marie Vien, Louis Jean Francois Lagrenee, Benjamin West, Adelaide Labille-Guiard, Friedrich Heinrich Fuger, Thomasrd, Marie Louise Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun, John Trumbull, Felice Giani, Jean-Baptiste Joseph Wicar, Jean-Germain Drouais and many others...  

Title:Neoclassicism A&I: Art and Ideas Author:David Irwin ISBN: 071483369X General Topic: Art History