Download neoclassical arts ppt

Neo-classic Era Basics
 Neo=new
 “Age of Reason” – intellectual movement –
ideas of Greece and Rome were inspiration
 Marked by rationality, ethics, aesthetics, and
knowledge
 Get away from superstition (magic),
irrationality, and tyranny of dark ages
 Enlightenment – framework for American
and French revolution
 Birth of capitalism, socialism, liberalism,
and fascism
 Arts important way of spreading
knowledge and serving the state’s needs
 State created arts academies – served the
state’s needs and ideas
 Created qualifications and diplomas –
propaganda
 Public museums and art galleries created –
propaganda
Thomas Jefferson
Promoted Neo-Palladian style
architect (Andrea Palladio –
principles of classic Roman
architecture)
Most of what Neoclassical architects
knew about Roman architecture
came from excavations of ruins
(Pompeii)
Monticello
Capitol Building
Neoclassicism in visual art
 Get away from Baroque
 Purity of Roman art/idealism of Greek art
 Neoclassical influences less evident in sculpture
– most influence came from Greek art
 Sharp colors
 Clean lines (no Sfumato)
 Chiaroscuro (less though)
 Use of perspective
 Look of artificial light, almost like the theatre
Jacques-Louis David
 French
 Inspired by Greeks and Romans
 Many works were based on
ancient history/mythology
 Official artist of the French
revolution/Napoleon’s court
 Painted many portraits of
revolutionary leaders
 Served time in jail for
participation in “The Terror”
 Later exiled (Louis XVIII)
Differences between Baroque/Rococo and Neoclassical
Art
NEOCLASSICAL
Difference #1
Emphasized drawing of line (which appealed
to the intellect), rather than color (which
appeals to the senses)
NEOCLASSICAL
Difference #2
Brushwork was smooth and compositions
were simple to avoid Rococo melodrama
NEOCLASSICAL
Difference #3
Neoclassical figures more solid looking than
French Classical Baroque
SEE THE DIFFERENCE?
Baroque:
Poussin, The Rape of the Sabine
Women, 1640s.
Neoclassical:
David, The Death of Socrates,
1787.
The Classical Music Period
(1720-1830)
Classical Music
• Polyphony replaced by homophonic
music (melody supported by system of
harmony)
• Movement centered in/around Vienna
• Begins in 1750’s and 60’s
• Reached maturity in 70’s and 80’s –
around the time of the American &
French revolutions
Mozart
• First symphony (musical work made up of
4 movements separated by silence) at age
8
• Amadeus means “loved by God”
• Austrian Emperor Joseph II accused his
music of “too many notes”
• Spread his reputation in Vienna by
publishing, playing the piano and having
an opera performed in 1782
Mozart
• Composed 15 piano concertos (composition for
an orchestra and soloist) by 1786
• Served as composer and soloist in his works
• Unable to finish his Requiem
• Final compositions were the Clarinet Concertos
• Possible causes of death – Flu, Mercury
poisoning (medicine), Kidney illness, Rheumatic
fever
• Buried in a Vienna suburb with little ceremony
and in an unmarked grave (even the second one
he was buried in)
Haydn
•
•
•
•
Trained as a choirboy
Became freelance musician and accompanist
Played violin and keyboard
Wrote sacred music, music for theatre
comedies, and chamber music
• Seen as the “father of the symphony and
string quartet” – did not originate them
• At his funeral in 1809 Mozart’s Requiem was
performed
Beethoven
• Exact date of birth unknown (likely
12/16/1770)
• Father gave instruction in piano, violin,
and viola – later known for his piano
virtuosity
• First public concert was on March 26, 1778
at age 7 (same day as his death 49 years
later)
• 1802 – found out his impaired hearing was
incurable and would worsen
Beethoven
• Became very productive despite hearing
impairment
• Aristocracy of Vienna supported him generously
and were tolerant of his rude & insensitive
manners, careless appearance, and towering
rages
• From end of 1790’s, he was no longer
dependent on patronage for income
• Sometimes took several years to refine an idea
before satisfied
Beethoven
• Ideas usually written in sketchbooks
which he constantly carried
• Death in 1827 – said that 10,000
people were at his funeral
• Became public figure before death –
unlike any musicians before
• Bridged classical of Mozart and Haydn
with Romantic period that followed
Moliere and Swift
 Making fun of current events
or social structures through
irony, sarcasm and wit
 Makes fun of moral and social
views
French actor and playwright
Master of Satire
Dance and drama were very important to
the French aristocracy/helped him
promote his art
 Established his own acting troupe in the
court of Louis XIV (1660)
 Used physical humor inspired by
Commedia dell’arte



 Used 5 act development as seen in
Greek and Renaissance (Shakespeare)
 Superstition – he collapsed during a
presentation of The Imaginary Invalid
and died later in his home – was
wearing yellow on stage – seen as bad
luck by some actors to wear yellow
costumes on stage
Summary
 Write a 5-6 sentence summary for Neo-Classical Art