Lesson 1

Neoclassicism
an artistic and cultural period that placed
importance on reason, order, and scientific
inquiry
Neoclassical art
It lacks emotion and has clear form, shallow space,
restrained colors, and strong vertical and horizontal lines.

The subject matter was timeless, as opposed to the

dynamic and temporal Baroque works.
Neoclassical Painting
۞Early Neoclassical paintings had compositions reminiscent of
figurative arrangements and poses from Greek vase paintings
and sculptures.
۞Neoclassical painters were inspired by ancient Greek and
Roman mythology and history as told in poetry, plays, and
historical interpretations.
۞Many Neoclassical paintings also portrayed important events
from the Medieval period and works of Dante.
Neoclassical Painting

۞Neoclassical painters also appreciate Gothic art.

۞They valued historical accuracy of settings, costumes, and other

details in their paintings.
 Famous
Neoclassical Painters
and their works
 Anton Raphael Mengs

Parnassus The Immaculate Conception The Penitent Mary

Magdalene
 Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres

Portrait of
La Grande Odalisque The Valpincon Bather
Madame Moitessier
 Jacques-Louis David

Oath of the Horatii The Lictors Bringing to Death of Marat

Brutus the Bodies of His
Sons
Angelica Kauffmann

Self portrait
Jean-Germain Drouais

The Dying Athlete

(Wounded Roman Soldier)
Anne-Louis Girodet de Roucy-
Trioson
(Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioan in some sources)

The Burial of Atala

Neoclassical Sculpture
۞Neoclassical sculptors were after beautiful silhouettes and pure
forms’ so it is not surprising that these sculptors predominantly
used white marbles and adapted mythological subject matter.

۞Neoclassical valued the calmness and stillness of Greek

sculptures—figures had upright calm poses and composed
postures , as can be seen in the works of Antonio Canova.
Silhouettes
Neoclassical Sculpture
۞Sculptors made sure that the costume, setting, details and
expression were appropriate to the subject.

۞They subdivide expressions and actions into classical calm,

idealized the body and face into a classical hero, and
transformed costumes into close-fitting dresses to elude
references to the ephemeral.
 Famous
Neoclassical Sculptors
and their works
Franz Xaver Messerschmidt
Character
Head series of 69
portrait busts

Jean-Baptiste Pigalle

Voltaire
 Joseph Nollekens
Venus

John Flaxma

The Fury of Athamas and

Admiral Horatio Nelson
The Fury of Athamas Admiral Horatio Nelson
 Antonio Canova

Psyche Revived by Paolina Borghese as

Apollo Crowning Himself
Cupid’s Kiss Venus Victrix
Theseus and the Minotaur The Crown Princesses of Louise
and Friederike of Prussia
 Bertel Thorvaldsen

Alexander the Great Entering Babylon

Jason with the Golden Fleece Cupid and Psyche Perseus and the
Head of Medusa
Neoclassical Architecture
Characteristics of Neoclassical buildings:
۞Clean and elegant lines
۞Orderly appearances
۞Simplicity of geometric form
۞Blank walls
۞Grandeur of scales
۞Dramatic columns
 Neoclassical
Three main types of
Architecture
1. Temple
2. Palladian
3. Classical Block Building
Temple
Many of these
temple-style
buildings feature a
design hardly ever
found in the
architecture during
the Renaissance
period.
Palladian Architecture
derives its name
from Andrea
Palladio, one of
the most
White House influential
architects of late
Italian
Renaissance.
The United States Capitol
Classical Block Building
Features a
massive square
or rectangle
block with a
classical detail-
Bibliotheque Sainte-Genevieve

rich exterior and

a flat roof.

Palais Garnier