Culture and Society During the Enlightenment

1. Culture and Society During the Enlightenment Let’s start with art

2. Overview of Neo-Classicism • Baroque and Neoclassicism dominated the 17th century and into the 18th century of art. • More than just an antique revival  a reaction against the surviving Baroque & Rococo styles. • Linked to contemporary political events: • Revolutions established republics in France and in America. [Neo-Classicism was adapted as the official art style]. • Association with the democracy of Greece and the republicanism of Rome. • Napoleon  used the style for propaganda.

3. Origins of Neo-Classical Art

4. 1. Excavations of the Ruins of Italian Cities Pompeii in 1748. Herculaneum in 1738.

5. 2. Publication of Books on Antiquity James Stuart & Nicholas RevertAntiquities in Athens: 1762-1816.

6. 3. Arrival of the Elgin Marbles Thomas Bruce,7th Lord of ElginBritish Museum, 1806 From the top façade of the Parthenon in Athens.

7. 4. Johann Winckelmann’s Artists Circle • Artists should “imitate” the timeless, ideal forms of the classical world. • A circle of international artists gathered about him in the 1760s in Rome. German art historian.

8. Characteristics of Neo-Classicism • Return to the perceived “purity” of the arts of Rome. • Model the “ideal” of the ancient Greek arts and, to a lesser, extent, 16c Renaissance classicism. • A conviction that there is a permanent, universal way things are (and should be), which obviously entails fundamental political and ethical commitments. • Sometimes considered anti-modern or even reactionary.

9. Neo-Classical Architecture

10. Robert Adam Syon HouseThe Red Salon Scottish architect & designer Syon House1760s

11. Claude Nicholas Ledoux • Designed a pavilion in 1771 for the Comtesse du Barry at Louveciennes. • Designed a series of city gates for Paris (1785-1789).

12. Claude Nicholas Ledoux Rotunde de la Villette, Paris

13. John Wood “The Royal Crescent [Circus]” at Bath, England (1754).

14. The “Empire Style”:Charles Percier & Pierre François Léonard Fontaine • Napoleon’s official architects. • They remade Paris in the intimidating opulence of Roman imperial architectural style.

15. Greek-Inspired Architecture Bank of England RotundaSir John Soane, 1796 British Museum PorticoSir Robert Smirke,1823-1847

16. The “Federal Style” in America • 1780 – 1820. • Thomas Jefferson’s influence. University of VA Monticello, VA U. S. Capitol

17. The “Greek Revival Style” in America Second Bank of the USPhiladelphia, 1824

18. Neo-Classical Painting

19. “Parnassus”Anton Raphael Mengs, 1761 Mengs was the leading artist of early Neo-Classicism.

20. “The Oath of Brutus”Gavin Hamilton, 1767 The oath was sworn as a promise of individual revenge against a corrupt monarchy.

21. “The Death of Socrates”Jacques-Louis David, 1787 The death of Socrates was a symbol of republican virtue.

22. “The Oath of the Horatii”Jacques-Louis David, 1784 A depiction of dutiful patriotism.

23. “The Consecration of Napoleon & Josephine”Jacques-Louis David, 1805-1807 A very different theme:The celebration of worldly splendor and power.

24. “The Apotheosis of Homer”Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1827 This assembly of great artists and writers of all ages gathered to honor the ancient Greek poet before a classical temple.

25. “Romulus—Victory over Acron”Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1812 Painted for Napoleon’s palace in Rome.

26. “The Sabine Women”Jean Auguste Ingres, 1799

27. Neo-Classical Sculpture

28. Neo-Classical Sculpture • Profoundly influenced by ancient art since the Renaissance. • Neo-Classical sculptors avoided the dramatic twisting poses and colored marble surfaces characteristic of late Baroque and Rococo sculpture. • They preferred: • Crisp contours. • A noble stillness. • Idealized white marble forms.

29. Antonio Canova “Apollo Crowning Himself,” 1781 “Perseus with the Head of Medusa,” 1804-1806

30. Antonio Canova “Paulina Bonaparte,” 1808 “Hercules”

31. Bertel Thorvaldsen “Jason,”1803-1823 “Adonis,” 1808-1832

32. Neo-Classical Decorative Arts

33. Furniture • The furniture designs used Greco-Roman motifs. • Became known as style étrusque [“Etruscan style”] in France. • Were favored by the court of Louis XV and later by Napoleon I.

34. Josiah Wedgwood Greek vases found in excavations became models for this new type of ceramics.

35. Neo-Classicism Continued Into the 19c and Beyond…. Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Buckingham Palace, London The Gate of Alcala, Madrid • By the mid-19s, several European cities were transformed into veritable museums of Neo-Classical architecture.

36. American Renaissance” Movement American Museum of Natural History National Gallery of Art Lincoln Memorial • A Neo-Classical expression in Beaux-Arts architecture.

37. The “Sunset” of Neo-Classicism • Sir Edwin Lutyan  a monumental city plan for New Delhi during the British Raj. Rashtrapati Bhavan[President’s House] India Gate Monument

38. GO TO ROCOCO POWER POINT Then come back

39. Music • 17th and 18th century were formative years for classical music. • Rise of opera, oratorio, the sonata, the concerto and the symphony. • Italians were first on the scene. • Most musicians depended on a patron and Italy and Germany soon became the musical leaders of Europe.

40. Baroque Music • Baroque techniques, which dominated Europe from the 1600’s to the 1750’s were mainly perfected by Handel and Bach. • Johann Sebastian Bach- music was above all a means to worship God • Mass in B Minor, Saint Matthew’s Passion, the cantatas and motets.

41. Baroque Music • Also from Germany, although he wrote over 40 operas and many other secular pieces, he is best known for his religious music. • His Messiah has been called a masterpiece of the highest order. Although Bach and Handel composed many instrumental suites, orchestral music did not become popular until the second half of the 18th century.

42. Classical Music • With the invention of the piano, a new musical period emerged, the Classical Period, represented by Haydn and Mozart. • Caused the musical center of Europe to shift from Italy/Germany to the Austrian Empire. • Franz Joseph Haydn- Hungarian, wrote two great oratorios The Creation and the Seasons- both dedicated to the common people.

43. Classical Music • The concerto, symphony and opera all reached their zenith in the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. • Italian comic opera- The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and the Magic Flute are three of the world’s greatest operas.

44. Development of the Novel and History • 18th century was the decisive development of the novel- grew out of medieval romances. • English are credited with establishing the modern novel as the chief vehicle for fiction writing. • Attractive to women readers and writers. • Philosophes were responsible for creating a revolution in the writing of history. • Eliminated the role of God in history and focused on the events themselves searching for causal relationship in the natural world. • Decline and Fall of the Roman Empireby Edward Gibbons is the best example.

45. High Culture of the 18th Century • High culture vs. popular culture- the literary and artistic world of the educated and wealthy ruling classes. • Growth in publishing, including the development of magazines and newspapers for the general public. • New schools with broader subject matter began opening, also created mainly for the upper class though. • Prior to this era, torture was common in court to gain confessions, public executions were normal • Philosophes were determined to change this aspect of society with a new approach to justice.

46. Cesare Beccaria • “On Crime and Punishments” he argued that punishments should serve only as deterrents not exercises in brutality. • Opposed capital punishment because it didn’t prevent crime, imprisonment, deprivation of freedom, did prevent crime, so it should be used. • Capital punishment harmed society too, because it set an example of barbarianism. • By the end of the 18th century, this growing sentiment brought about a decline in torture and executions.

47. Popular Culture • Carnival; celebrated in the weeks before lent- a time of great indulgence • Taverns and Alcohol- became huge among the poor, 2-5 million gallons drank between 1714-1733 and only declined when laws were passed. • Big difference between high culture and popular culture.

48. Religion and Churches • Music of the time largely religious, thinking of the time largely non religious, but most Europeans were still Christians. • Churches were conservative institutions that upheld traditions of society and the hierarchy of society. • Churches were largely state controlled • The role of the Pope in politics and state affairs greatly declined. • Religious toleration slowly increased, except for the Jews. • Except in Poland, Jews were restricted in their movements, forbidden to hold land, certain jobs and forced to pay special taxes. • Philosophes denounced the treatment of Jews, but nothing really changes.

49. Popular Religion • Pietism- a German response to the desire for a deeper personal relationship with God. • Utterly opposed anyone who tried to understand God with their mind. • Wesley and Methodism- took the gospel to the people, the masses

50. European Population • Population began to grow around the 1750’s (120 million 1700- 140 million by 1750) • Increases occurred at the same time as lots of Europeans moving to colonies. • Most important cause was the death rate (end of the plague, improved diets…)