Neoclassicism

6. NEOCLASSICISM - A new artistic style called Neoclassicism was initiated in France during the second half of the 18 th century.

- It was influenced by the Enlightenment’s focus on reason and by the opportunities for fist-hand observation of ancient works.

- It moved away from the exaggerated Baroque style and excessive decoration - It aimed to a return to the balance and serenity of the art of the Early Renaissance and its Greco-Roman origins.

- It was linked to the European academies of art.

- Academic art was founded on treatises and rules that expressed the new way of thinking.

- They tried to estalish control over the artistic production based on the adherence to certain precepts and traditions

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NEOCLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE Rational Enlightenment principles were applied to new buildings and structures, incorporating classical qualities such as purity andgrandeur.

Major Euroepan architetcs included Soufflot, designer of the Pantheon in Paris, and Langhans, who designed the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

New structures were built using a huge scale. They conveyed a sense of symmetry and elegance, Sculpture followed classical models.

It uses motifs found on Greek temples Classical decorative elements like the pediments and columns were used.

Forms were simple and free of unnecessary decoration

6. NEOCLASSICISM NEOCLASSICAL SCULPTURE -Sculpture returned to the models of Antiquity in terms of simplicity andthemes.

- Artists tried tomreplicate the serene facialexpressions, gentle movements and idealised figures of classical sculpture.

- There was an emphasis on geometry in the figures.

- They worked in marble and bronze - Antonio Canova is one of the finest Neoclassical sculptors known for his delicate andgraceful figures.

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NEOCLASSICAL PAINTING Neoclassical painters focused on portraits, scenes of salosn and daily life, historical subjects and themes from Antiquity related to heroism, patriotism and moral rectitude, Neoclassicism gave greater importance to line than to colour.

Figures andlightning were meant to be serene and soft.

The most important French painters: - David: - He was the main promoter of neoclassicism painting.

- He was inspired by the composition of Roman sculpture

- Ingres; - He learnt at David’s school and developed a personal style finding inspiration in the works of Raphael