The Rococo artistic movement, which was not very widespread to begin with, gave way to a
new aesthetic style in the second half of the 18th c.- NeoClassicism (1770-1820).
NeoClassicism was a popular and widespread artistic movement which was based on a desire
for Classical revival. From the 1750's onwards, European art came under the influence of
classical antiquity and the ideals of classical civilization were sought to be emulated by a
generation of intellectuals and artists. After the extravagance of Baroque and Rococo, many
longed for a restrained art
Neo Classical artistic movement emphasized reason, harmony, simplicity, natural order and
proportion, as seen in the paintings, architecture, sculpture of the period. As an art style, it
was a reaction against the ornate and decorative Baroque and Rococo art forms which came
to represent frivolity and decadence. As Enlightenment ideas became popular, art was also
seen as serving a larger, intellectual purpose. art was seen as a serious intellectual pursuit
carrying the same set of standards as the idolized works of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Imitating the Ancients was an important concern in this period as J.J. Winckelmann, the 18th
century German artist and archaeologist said – Art should aim at simplicity and calm
grandeur.
In paintings, NeoClassicism (NC) emphasized austere and linear designs, restraint color
palette and controlled brushstrokes, depicted classical themes, events and heroes along with
other historical themes. The aim of these paintings was to invoke moral sentiments of the
highest order in its audience and emphasise values of heroism, stoicism, bravery etc.
In architecture, there was a reaction against ornamentation and decorative elements. The
buildings were characterized by grid planning, Palladian columns, blank walls and stark design. These buildings emphasized simplicity, reason, order, harmony. It was also a popular
style for planning and building urban cities in late 18th and early 19th c.
In sculpture it emphasized austere and grace, as seen in the marble busts, life size statues of
the period. Classical Greek-Roman themes and figures were popular.
In literature, writers of this period tended to emulate the style of classical writers and were
heavily influenced by enlightenment values of reason, logic, self-restraint etc. There were
many novels, essays, fables, satire, poetry produced in this period.
In music, we see simpler and unadorned melodies and performances. Musical styles like
opera etc. were less ornamental and more inspired by Greek tragedies.
In fashion, plain, flowy, simpler Grecian style dresses and hairstyles became popular.
White-coloured, draped dresses, unadorned hair were seen on women and men’s clothes and
hairstyles also became simpler.
The term NeoClassicism (NC) was not used till the mid-nineteenth century, instead
contemporary writings called this new artistic style as Revival or Reformed or True style.
Origins and Historical Context of Neo Classicism
• Enlightenment – The ideas and Enlightenment thought of reason, order, progress influenced
the artistic style of the period. The Philosophes and Enlightenment intellectuals had criticized
late Baroque and Rococo Art as overindulgent, overtly religious, sensuous and having no
moral worth/intellectual worth. They believed that knowledge was based on empirical experience and Reason and can lead to social reform. They revered science, progress, human
mind and capability. Art was also seen as an instrument of moral upliftment and social
reform, guiding men towards reason, order and good taste. Art was not just to entertain and
please the senses, it was also important to inform and educate.
• Reaction against Aristocratic privilege – Baroque and Rococo were seen as embodiments of
the period of aristocratic riches, artificial refinement, moral decay and wasteful expenditure.
From the mid-eighteenth century, there emerged a strong reaction against this. Often NC Art
is seen as the representation of social unrest. Especially in France, NC Art was a reaction
against the rule of the Regent Phillipe d’Orleans, Louis XV and Louis XVI. That is also the
reason why this art was so popular during the period of French Revolution. It reflected the
social unrest, political and intellectual currents of the period.
• Rediscovery of Pompeii (1748) and Herculaneum (1738) – These ancient sites were
rediscovered in mid-18th C. and the excavation found many art objects and artifacts. These
Ancient cities had lain buried since 79 A.D. under the looming volcano Vesuvius. The
re-discovery of the past and the excavation of these sites unearthed new specimen of classical
art and created an interest in classicism. These classical cities were seen as the remnant of an
ideal civilization which could give lessons in morality and virtue. Many archaeologists and
historians visited and wrote about these sites and their history. Johann Joachim
Winklemann(d. 1768), a German art historian and archaeologist who was the leading expert
on Hellenist history wrote extensively on Greco-Roman civilization and art. His book History
of Ancient Art (1764) was important in popularizing Neo Classicism. Classical history and
art also received a boost because of the ‘Grand Tour’ that became extremely popular among
the European upper classes. Students, scholars, nobles, landed gentry and politicians all made the journey to Italy and Greece as they were seen as the cradle of Western Civilization. Apart
from Pompeii and Herculaneum, Florence, Naples were also the part of the Grand Tour which
was seen as the journey of a lifetime. Tourists hired personal tutors and guides to learn about
Classical History and Art.
• In France and other parts of Europe (also in America), French Revolution (and American
Revolution) popularized certain political ideas of Republicanism, democratic participation,
civic virtue. These ideas found their way into the aesthetic style of the period. The Artists
wanted to express these political ideas through their work and often used Republican Rome
and its historical events and figures as popular themes (for example figures like Caesar,
Brutus, Socrates, Cicero were often represented in these paintings and sculptors). Art was the
embodiment of revolutionary hope and republicanism of this period. It was the art of the
nascent French Republic and also Napoleonic empire, both of which looked at Ancient Rome
as the ideal republic. Ancient Athens was also a popular theme because of its vibrant
democratic institution. The Nationalistic and patriotic ideals of late Eighteenth century
Europe found an expression in the Art. Thus, it grew out of the chaotic political – social –
intellectual upheavals of the late 18th C.
Criticism and Decline of Neo Classicism
As Counter-Enlightenment thought became firmly established in western intellectual circles,
there was a growing criticism of Enlightenment ideals of scientific progress, reason and
order. French Revolution marked the end of the age of Enlightenment and also led to the
decline of the Neo Classicism artistic style. A new intellectual and artistic movement
emerged as a reaction to these developments. This was Romanticism, which emphasized
human emotions, feelings, creativity, intuition and challenged the classical art forms.
Romantic art was a more creative, eclectic, emotional, dramatic art as compared to Neo
precise and symmetrical forms. All parts were supposed to fit into the whole (e.g. the entire
building, with its interior and open spaces, was treated as one).
• Restraint- NC art prioritized restrained and subtle elements over decorative/theatrical
designs. In paintings, this was seen in the subdued colours used and the more serious, sombre
themes. Statues and sculptures were serene and calm, unlike the intense figures of Baroque,
with impassive countenance. Architecture was also more severe, classical looking than the
curving, decorative style favoured in Baroque and Rococo.
• NC emphasized intellectual over emotional- Art was supposed to have moral lessons for the
audience. It was a tool for social improvement.
• Classical Revival- Greco-Roman themes, designs and forms were the most important
influence in this period. Mythological and Historical Greek and Roman subjects- Cupid,
Eros, Perseus, Venus, Medusa, Odysseus, Hercules, Achilles, Socrates, Julius Caesar were
often painted and sculpted by NC artists.
• Symbolism- NC art employed symbolism and allegorical themes to highlight the values it
propagated- heroism, bravery, self-restraint, sacrifice etc.
Paintings and main artists
The NC paintings emphasized linear lines, classical and historical themes, with the use of
controlled brush strokes and restrained colors. use of strong perspective to focus on the
central theme/figure of the painting. The paintings employed allegorical symbols to
emphasize values like sacrifice, moral strength, virtue etc.
Leading painter of this period was Jacque Louis David (d.1825). he was a French Artist who
led the change towards a more intellectual art. His art was inspiring, heroic and forceful. He
was also influenced by j>J> Winklemann’s writing on Classical Antiquity and advocated the
superiority of Classical Art. he was admired by French Philosophes like Diderot and also by
French revolutionaries and Jacobin’s like Robespierre. His art reflected the changing political
climate of France and Europe where values of civic republicanism, patriotism, discipline
were idealized. Some even see his art as propaganda for the new Jacobin regime and later
Napoleonic empire. (most important paintings-Oath of Horatio, Death of Socrates, The
Tennis Court Oath, Death of Marat, Coronation of Napoleon and Josephine)
Other NC leading NC painters were Jean Augustus Ingres(d. 1867,French), Angelica
Kauffman(Swiss- English), Sir Joshua Reynolds( English)
Sculpture and main artists
The excavations of ruins at Pompeii and discovery of classical art influenced NC sculpture. It
was characterized by symmetry and restraint, focused on themes from classical history, and
highlighted values like patriotism, duty and virtue. NC sculpture had simplicity of
composition and unemotional subjects, unlike the extravagant posture and emotional appeal
of Baroque sculpture. They were mostly life sized, made of glossy marble. Marble busts of
famous historical figures (Napoleon, Voltaire, Russo, Thomas Jefferson, etc.) were also very
popular, along with statues of classical mythological figures like Venus, Achilles etc.
Antonio Canova (d. 1822) was the leading sculpture from this period. He was from Rome and
was commissioned to make many statues of mythological themes. He also made many statues
and busts of famous men of the period like Napoleon (one of his statues portrayed Napoleon
as God Mars).
Other sculptors were Jean Antoine Houdon (d.1828, French), Bertel Thorvaldssen ( d. 1844,
Danish)
Architects and Main Buildings
The buildings also looked towards Classical Antiquity for inspiration. The buildings were
grand in scale with emphasis on geometrical symmetry and clean lines. They were marked by
flat surfaces and blank walls, with columns, pillars, friezes decorated with relief work
provided the decorative elements. Another important aspect of NC architecture was that each
part of a building was seen as making one ‘whole’.
The Architecture was also known as Palladian Architecture, named so after the venetian
architect Andrea Palladio to emphasize values of symmetry and strong perspective. Sir John Nash (d. 1835 architect of Buckingham Palace, Saint James Park) and Sir Robert Smirke who
designed the British Museum were the leading English Architects of this period.
In France, Jean Chalgrin (d. 1811) was the leading architect. He is best remembered for his
Arc de Triomphe in Paris which was built in 1806 to honor those who had died during the
French Revolution and Napoleonic wars. It was inspired by the Roman Arcs and was a
symbol of triumphant patriotism.
Other important examples of NC style of architecture are- The Brandenburg Gate (Berlin,
Germany), Pavlosk Palace (Saint Petersburg, Russia), US Capitol Building (Washington DC,
US)
Based on study of thr Rococo and NeoClassicism artistic styles of 17th and 18th c., we have
seen how art expresses the ideas and ideologies of a given period. It mirrors the
socio-cultural, political and intellectual developments and remains deeply embedded in the
