Gladess Vivero

BSHM2C

Art Appreciation

Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism was a major art movement during this time that lasted from around 1760 to 1840
and favored a depiction of classical themes and subject matter. Neoclassicism was deeply inspired
by classical Greek and Rome and often depicted scenes from myths and legends that conveyed a
moral message. Subjects, settings, and costumes were often depicted with historical accuracy
thanks to the highly detailed classical literature of the Greek author Homer, the Italian poet Dante
Alighieri, the Roman poet Ovid, among other prolific Greek and Roman thinkers.

A key aesthetic component of Neoclassical art was also technical precision. Neoclassical paintings
typically idealized human figures, depicting them according to the standards of physical beauty
accepted at the time. Compositions were also shallow and closed, balanced, with a restrained color
palette. Order, logic, and scientific advancements were reflected in Neoclassical art, which was a
reaction to the frivolity seen from the 1720s through to the 1750s when the Rococo style was
popular in Europe, particularly France.