Characteristics of Romanticism 1. A Reaction to the Enlightenment: A reaction to the ordered, rational mode of thought of the Enlightenment. The artist as genius—truth found in feelings and sentiment. 1. A Reaction to the Enlightenment: A reaction to the ordered, rational mode of thought of the Enlightenment. The artist as genius—truth found in feelings and sentiment.
Characteristics of Romanticism 2. Glorification of Nature: Peaceful, restorative qualities [an escape from industrialization and the dehumanization it creates]. Awesome, powerful, horrifying aspects of nature. Indifferent to the fate of humans. Overwhelming power of nature. 2. Glorification of Nature: Peaceful, restorative qualities [an escape from industrialization and the dehumanization it creates]. Awesome, powerful, horrifying aspects of nature. Indifferent to the fate of humans. Overwhelming power of nature.
Characteristics of Romanticism 3. The Supernatural: Ghosts, fairies, witches, demons. The shadows of the mind—dreams & madness. A reaction to rationalism [an escape from reason!] 3. The Supernatural: Ghosts, fairies, witches, demons. The shadows of the mind—dreams & madness. A reaction to rationalism [an escape from reason!]
Romantic Artists I feel; therefore I am!
Lady Macbeth - Henry Fuseli, 1794
Wandering Above the Sea of Fog Caspar David Friedrich, 1818
An Avalanche in the Alps Philip James de Loutherbourg, 1803
Sunset After a Storm On the Coast of Sicily – Andreas Achenbach, 1853
Shipwreck – Joseph Turner, 1805
The Eruption of Vesuvius - John Martin
Rain, Steam, and Speed Joseph Mallord William Turner, 1844
Rain, Steam, & Speed (details)
Flatford Mill – John Constable, 1817
The Corn Field John Constable, 1826
The Hay Wain - John Constable, 1821
Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows John Constable, 1831
Eldena Ruin Gaspar David Friedrich, 1825
Winter Landscape with Church Gaspar David Friedrich, 1811
Abbey in an Oak Forest Caspar David Friedrich,
Mad Woman With a Mania of Envy Theodore Gericault, Mad Woman With a Mania of Envy Theodore Gericault,
The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun William Blake,
RevelationRevelation chapter 12, verses 1 to 4: And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Stonehenge - John Constable, 1836
Witches Sabbath Francisco Goya, 1798
Saturn Devours His Son Francisco Goya,
Liberty Leading the People Eug è ne Delacroix, 1830
Napoleon at the St. Bernard Pass David, 1803 Napoleon at the St. Bernard Pass David, 1803
The Sultan of Morocco and His Entourage Eug è ne Delacroix, 1845
The Bullfight - Francisco Goya
The Great Age of the Novel Gothic Novel : Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte Science Fiction Novel: Frankenstein - Mary Shelley Dracula – Bramm Stoker Historical Novel : Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott Les Miserables - Victor Hugo The Three Musketeers – Alexander Dumas Gothic Novel : Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte Science Fiction Novel: Frankenstein - Mary Shelley Dracula – Bramm Stoker Historical Novel : Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott Les Miserables - Victor Hugo The Three Musketeers – Alexander Dumas
Other Romantic Writers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm - Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Mary Shelley Frankenstein Mary Shelley Frankenstein
The Romantic Poets Percy Byssche Shelley Lord Byron (George Gordon) Samuel Taylor Coleridge William Wordsworth John Keats William Blake
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Bibliographic Sources CGFA: A Virtual Art Museum. “Romanticism” on Artchive. CGFA: A Virtual Art Museum. “Romanticism” on Artchive.