Neoclassic/Romantic Art

Neoclassical Art Severe and objective form of art –harkening back to the grandeur of ancient Greece and Rome. Reaction to the feminine, over refined and decorative Rococo style and emotional charged Baroque style. –Form : balanced, restrained –Color: rich –Figures: realistic Part of a general revival of interest in classical thought, important in the American and French revolutions.

Jacques Louis David Repetition of line: balanced composition Realistic figures Expresses, however, Romantic nationalism “Napoleon Crossing the Alps”

“Death of Marat” Violent subject portrayed in restrained manner Restrained use of chiaroscuro

Ingres Student of David Balance Classical poses Restraint Romantic nationalism

Romanticism Counterbalance to Neoclassic style Emotion Freedom: no rules Romantic nationalism Subject matter: weird, supernatural, exotic as well as patriotic, genre paintings (pastoral, sublime of the ordinary)

Blake Romantic idealism –“I do not behold the outward creation... it is a hindrance and not action.” Showed Social injustice Imagination, individualism Engraver: “drawn” figures

Nebuchadnezzer

Whirlwind of Lovers

Friedrich (this one is Gothic)

Fascination with odd, weird Exotic settings in time and space

Constable: genre painting

Peaceful genre scene Idealized nature

Delacroix: “Liberty Leading the People”

Gericault “The Raft of the Medusa”

Francisco Goya (Spain) Straddles Romantic Realistic/naturalistic Disillusioned Romantic Realistic portrayal of what he saw Technique: Romantic Romantic nationalism Family of Charles III –Charles looks foolish –His wife looks hard and domineering –Others look self satisfied

(Goya) Disasters of War: “This is Terrible” Romantic composition and freedom Realistic subject matter

2 nd of May 1808 Napoleonic wars massacre he actually witnessed in Madrid Romantic composition and nationalism

3 rd of May 1808 Note use of chiaroscuro, composition and symbolism Faceless enemy, Christ-symbol of insurrectionist

Beethoven Bridged Classical and Romantic periods –Form used contextually –Motifs –Works as attempts for perfection Manifested Romantic ideal –Pastoral, Symphony No. 6 –Symphony 9, Ode to Joy –Eroica –Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Pathetique

Franz Schubert Vienna Austria Child prodigy Wrote lieder—songs with emotional theme based on folk tradition Song cycle Wrote for fewer instruments –Unfinished Symphony –Symphony in C major Many works were lost

Felix Mendelssohn Tried to preserve Classical style –Brought Bach out of obscurity Symphonies were classical form and romantic tone Midsummer Night’s Dream

Frederic Chopin Child prodigy Sickly his whole life: died young Ultimate romantic love story Made money by giving piano concerts Composed mazurkas, preludes and polonaises: nationalistic, emotional –Etude Opus 10 –Polonaise in A flat major –Minute Waltz

Franz Liszt Hungarian child prodigy Great showman Kind to other musicians Several love affairs: –Romanticism –Individualism Les Preludes Hungarian Rhapsody –Nationalistic –Used folk themes

Richard Wagner German nationalism –Nazis loved him Not a prodigy Immoral life Opera –Leitmotif Depicted Germanic myths and heroes –Die Walküre (Ride of the Valkyries) –Tannhäuser (end of the overture) –Tristan and Isolde (Unresolved – Liebestod)

Giuseppe Verdi Greatest Italian style opera –Aida –La Traviata –Rigoletto La Donna e Mobile Innovation –Focus on human emotion –De-emphasis on bel-canto style Rossini: Barber of Seville –Excellent librettos (stories) –Orchestra an important component

Johann Strauss Father was excellent composer Played in father’s orchestra More popular than his father Waltzes –Embodiment of Viennese life –Blue Danube Waltz –Tales of the Vienna Woods

Johann Brahms German At first imitated Beethoven until developed own style Mentored by Robert and Clara Schumann Emotional compositions –Hungarian Dance #5 –Lullaby

Russian Composers Moussorgsky,Balakirev, Borodin, Cui, Rimsky-Korsakov –Russian Easter Overture Used Russian themes Helped each other Flight of the Bumble Bee Night on Bald Mountain Almaty, Kazakhstan

Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky Russian Used French style Ballets are most famous –Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty –Romeo and Juliet Deep emotion for his sad life –Symphony No. 6 – Pathètique