ARTS OF THE NEO-

CLASSICAL PERIOD
(1780-1840)
 The word neoclassic comes from the
Greek word neos meaning new and the
Latin word classicus which is similar in
meaning to the English phrase first class.
 Neo-classicism is the name given to the
western movements in the decorative
and visual arts. Also, it applies to
literature, theater, music, and
architecture that draw inspiration from
the classical art and culture of Ancient
Greece and Ancient Rome.
 It coincided with the 18th
century Age of Reason also
known as Age of
Enlightenment. The art style
was brought about by the
renewed interest for Greek
and Roman Classics.
 Neo-Classical art pieces such
as paintings, sculpture, and
architecture generally
portrayed Roman history
which elevated the Roman
 Characteristics of
Neoclassicism
 Rebirth of Roman History
 Formal composition
 The use of diagonals show the
apex of emotion/moment
(versus a regular moment)
 Local color
 Overall lighting
 Classic geo-structure
NEO-CLASSICAL PAINTING
 JACQUES-LOUIS
DAVID (1748-1825)
France
 Influential French
painter in the
Neoclassical style,
and considered to
be the pre-
eminent painter
of the era.
 His subjects are
more on history.
FAMOUS ARTWORKS OF
JACQUES-LOUIS DAVID
 THE DEATH OF
MARAT
 David’s masterpiece
shows the portrayal
of a revolutionary
martyr. This is a
painting of the
murdered French
revolutionary leader
Jean-Paul Marat.
 NAPOLEON
CROSSING THE
ALPS
 The painting that
showed a strongly
idealized view of
the real crossing
that Napoleon
and his army
made across the
Alps through the
Great St.
Bernard Pass in
May 1800.
 OATH OF HORATII
 It was a large painting
that depicts a scene
from the Roman
legend about the
dispute between
Rome and Alba
Longa. The three
brothers, all of whom
appear willing to
sacrifice their lives for
the good of Rome, are
shown saluting their
father who holds their
swords out for them.
 JEAN-AUGUSTE-
DOMINIQUE
INGRES (1780-
1867) France
 Ingres was a pupil of
Jacques-Louis David.
 He was influenced by Italian
Renaissance painters like
Raphael, Nicolas Pousin,
Botticelli, and his mentor,
Jacques-Louis David
 His paintings were usually
nudes, portraits, and
mythological themes.
 He was regarded as one of
the great exemplars of
academic art and one of the
finest Old Masters of his era.
 FAMOUS ARTWORKS OF
INGRES
 PORTRAIT OF
NAPOLEON ON THE
IMPERIAL THRONE
 The painting depicts
Napoleon in his decadent
coronation costume, seated
on his golden-encrusted
throne, hand resting upon
smooth ivory balls. During
his reign, the painting was
owned by the Corps
Legislatif which was a part
of the French Legislature.
The painting was believed
to be commissioned by
Napoleon as King of Italy.
 THE
APOTHEOSIS OF
HOMER
 The painting was a
state-commission
by Charles X to have
him remembered in
the building works
of the Louvre. The
painting depicts an
image of Homer,
receiving to brilliant
men of Rome,
Greece and
contemporary
times.
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NEO-CLASSICAL SCULPTURES
The neo-classical Period was one of the great ages of public
sculpture. Artists looked to Roman styles during the time of
Alexander the Great for inspiration as well as to mimic their style.

 ANTONIO CANOVA
(1752-1822) Italy
Canova was a prolific Italian
sculptor who became
famous for his marble
sculptures that delicately
rendered nude flesh. He
opened the idea for
portraying discrete
sexual pleasures by using
pure contours with his
mythological
compositions.
FAMOUS ARTWORKS OF
CANOVA
PSYCHE
AWAKENED BY
CUPID’S KISS
A marble
sculpture
portraying the
relationship of
Psyche and
Cupid.
WASHINGTON
This is a marble
sculpture of
George
Washington
currently
displayed at
North Carolina
Museum of
History.
 BERTEL
THORVALDSEN
(1789-1838)
Denmark
Thorvaldsen was the
first
internationally
acclaimed Danish
artist. He executed
sculptures of
mythological
characters.
FAMOUS ARTWORKS OF
THORVALDSEN
 CHRIST
A marble
sculpture
image of
resurrected
Christ
currently
located at the
Thorvaldsen
Museum.
 LION OF
LUCERNE
A sculpture of a
dying lion in
Lucerne,
Switzerland that
commemorates
the Swiss Guards
who were
massacred in
1792 during the
French
Revolution.
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