Classical Era: Revolution and Art in the 1700s
18th Century Art Influenced by Revolution
Background Information
The Classical Era in the 18th century was categorized by a great deal of political change in both the United States and Europe. This massive amount of political change then affected art as a result. Significant historical events like the American Revolution spanning 1776-1781 spurred the French Revolution in Europe from 1789-1799. The French Revolution dealt with class tensions, brought about the passing of the monarchy, tried to respond to the growing national debt, and pushed for a greater degree of self-governance and independence. In particular, neoclassical art became a new style heavily influenced by the ongoing Revolution.
Neoclassical art, gaining prominence in the mid-eighteenth century, replaced Rocco-style art which was found more typically in the early 1700s. Many individuals in France wanted to begin moving away from the Rocco style because of its distinct reflection of the aristocracy. The French Revolution brought about the neoclassical style in France and many artists quickly adapted to the shift in the taste of art. This style is more linear and somber in comparison to the Rocco style which incorporated pastel colors and contained light subject matter. Neoclassical art represents Roman ideals, pays tribute to stories of self-sacrifice, incorporates elements of heroism, and so much more. All of the paintings discussed in this post are created by neoclassical artists who were influenced by the French Revolution taking place in the 1700s.
Neoclassical Art Analysis and Influences
The Death of Socrates by Jacques Louis David in 1787
One of the most striking examples of neoclassical art is titled The Death of Socrates created by Jacques Louis David in 1787 in Rome. While David finished this piece in time to be displayed in the Salon of 1787 in Rome, this painting is found today in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Jacques David actually produced this masterpiece two years before the French Revolution started in France. In the painting, he depicted a scene focusing on Socrates who was a prominent philosopher in 399 BCE in Ancient Greece.
Socrates is shown reaching for a glass filled with poison demonstrating his willingness to die for what he believes in instead of renouncing his beliefs altogether. Even though the French Revolution hadn't begun yet, the painting still is heavily influenced by the political change of the time. David wanted to convey that France's royal authority, King Louis XVI, in particular, was unfair just like that of Ancient Greece's rulers. The French Revolution would go on to demonstrate the struggle for individual freedom in France as was also seen in the American Revolution.
The Death of Socrates contains various artistic elements that further categorize it as being neoclassical. First off, the colors create a sense of somberness because they don't necessarily stand out in a notable way. They come across as more muted. Darkness also adds to the overall somber feel as it is present surrounding the central unfolding scene. This piece is also very linear as seen through the horizontal positioning of the figures in Socrates' trial. Finally, the painting as a whole tells a story of self-sacrifice which is a common theme among neoclassical pieces.
Penitent Magdalene by Antonio Canova from 1794-96
Paintings like David's weren't the only forms of neoclassical art in the midst of the French Revolution. Antonio Canova was a very notable neoclassical sculptor who created the sculpture Penitent Magdalene from 1794-96 out of gilt-bronze and marble. Canova created two similar versions of his moving work that are housed in the Museo di Sant'Agostino in Genoa and in St. Petersburg's Hermitage Museum respectively. The image of Mary Magdalene, Christ's mother, was chosen by Canova to symbolize the cost of war that had been taking place at the time. Instead of glamorizing war, Canova took a different approach and crafted a piece that was filled with grief, relating to many of those throughout France.
This sculpture definitely holds a very somber and gloomy feel adhering to the overall neoclassical style. The tears rolling down the figure's cheeks, the skull resting on the ground, her downcast gaze, and her limp hold on the object in her hands greatly contribute to this feeling. Mary Magdalene is also depicted in a kneeling position that could have a tie to the idea of moral virtue, another neoclassical trait. It has been said that Magdalene is atoning for her sins after the loss of Jesus thus her grief-filled stance. Because Jesus was a man seen by many as having great moral virtue, perhaps she was taking the time to self-reflect and repent about the current state of her own. Both the somber feel and the touch on moral virtue are two art elements that represent the neoclassical style.
Seated Voltaire by Jean Antoine Houdon in 1778
Continuing with another neoclassical sculptor spotlight, Jean Antoine Houdon created this wonderful depiction of Voltaire in 1778 in Paris, France. This particular version of his work was made from gilt-bronze which was featured in the Salon of 1779. Voltaire, also known as Francois-Marie Arouet, was a great Enlightenment writer who fought for the freedom of religion and speech and the distinction between church and state. Houdon's sculpture of Voltaire holds significant influence from the French Revolution because one of the ideals of the Revolution was obtaining liberty from the French authority. Jean Houdon was able to create real-life neoclassical sculptures that represented historical figures fighting for common political ideals.
One characteristic that classifies this work as neoclassic right off the bat is its symbolic nature. Houdon beautifully crafted a prominent Enlightenment writer who upholds French ideals in the 1700s. Just like in the piece The Death of Socrates by David, Seated Voltaire holds a more muted color through the sculptor's utilization of gilt-bronze. There is also a sense of simplicity that is present in this work which is starkly different from the previous art styles we have covered. Although there is great detailing on the garments of Voltaire, the rest of the piece including the pedestal and chair is crafted in a simplistic manner. Houdon did a wonderful job of incorporating elements of neoclassicism through the symbolic nature, muted color, and simplistic nature.
Aesthetic Appreciation
The neoclassical works of David, Canova, and Houdon are all awe-inspiring in their own way. David's The Death of Socrates successfully highlights resistance against French authority and holds various art elements that strengthen its meaning. Canova's Penitent Magdalene stirs feelings of grief in the on-looker in order to demonstrate the major toll of the French Revolution. Finally, Houdon's Seated Voltaire highlights an influential Enlightenment writer whose ideals line up with that of the Revolution. Throughout each and every one of these works, I feel a sense of sadness as they are symbolizing all of the turmoil and political change in the 1700s.
I don't think I would ever own any of these pieces because they aren't normally styles of art I am drawn to. The painting by David isn't a scene I view as overly appealing due to the fact that I enjoy more vibrant and lively pieces of art. Penitent Magdalene is a sculpture that I find fascinating due to its historical context, but its sheer size and story are something I don't overly connect with. Seated Voltaire is another piece I wouldn't personally own because I am not a huge fan of bronze and Voltaire isn't really a historical figure of whom I have a lot of knowledge. I think the most appropriate place to display pieces like these is in museums where hundreds of people can appreciate them each and every day. I find history very fascinating, so I really enjoyed looking at the influences of the French Revolution through all three of the pieces.
Sources
Artincontext. “‘The Death of Socrates’ by Jacques-Louis David - An Analysis.” Artincontext.org, 4 Aug. 2022, https://artincontext.org/the-death-of-socrates-by-jacques-louis-david/.
Harris, Dr. Beth, and Dr. Steven Zucker. “Jacques-Louis David, the Death of Socrates.” Smarthistory, https://smarthistory.org/jacques-louis-david-the-death-of-socrates/.
Pollitt, Ben. “Antonio Canova, Penitent Magdalene.” Smarthistory, https://smarthistory.org/antonio-canova-penitent-magdalene/.
Workshop of Jean Antoine Houdon French. “Workshop of Jean Antoine Houdon: Seated Voltaire: French, Paris.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1 Jan. 1778, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/201455.
Hello! I really like your commentary at the end in voicing your opinion.Penitent Magdalene by Antonio Canova stood out to me the most because of the emotion the sculpture is showing created the illusion of a tear running down his face. My favorite part was that the sculpture was made of marble. The connection to the theme was French Revolution in the 1700's was very good because all artists were from neoclassical artists.
ReplyDeleteHello Libbey, you picked some excellent pieces to exhibit how the various revolutions of the time influenced the art of the period. Rococo art, although pretty and full of innuendos, was very much skin-deep when it came to deeper meaning and subjects. With the political turmoil in France quickly growing, it is no wonder that the frivolous style of the Rococo that reinforced the lower classes' disdain for high society was replaced by the more substantial art of the Neoclassical style. I fully agree with you that Rococo art was hated because it was a direct reflection of everything wrong with the aristocracy. The American Revolution brought with it many tales of heroism and triumph over their British lords. Neoclassical history paintings were created in order to capture many of these feats. Meant to inspire heroism, bravery, self-sacrifice, and other noble deeds it is clear to see how such art was greatly favored by those in the thralls of the French Revolution. The Death of Socrates by Jacques Louis David, John Singleton Copley’s The Death of Major Peirson, and The Intervention of the Sabine Women by Jacques-Louis David are all excellent examples of Neoclassical art and the values they wished to convey. In all three works an individual is either putting themselves in harm’s way or dying for their cause. I especially like that you chose to include Penitent Magdalene by Antonio Canova in your discussion of revolutions' effects on art. As you explained, and as is evident in the art, with any kind of conflict there is inevitable heartache that accompanies even the best victories, a sentiment that can also be seen in Oath of the Horatii by jacques-louis David. With Penitent Magdalene you can really feel the crushing weight of the woman’s grief in her posture. For that reason, along with the beautifully rendered scull, I find great appreciation in this statue. Seated Voltaire by Jean Antoine Houdon serves as a comforting reminder that despite times of war there will always be those who seek enlightenment and while still fighting for the rights of others. I find it fascinating that despite depicting a seated figure, Jean Antoine Houdon was able to create a figure who represented great defiance against a powerful enemy. The same can be said for The Death of Socrates while Penitent Magdalene represents a more silent type of revolt held in the hears of the people that were powerless to stop the fighting.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very nice blog post. Something that I find appealing is that David's The Death of Socrates looks very realistic. I really like the colors that were used for the painting. It has a message of resistance against France's unfair ruling authority. Socrates was sentenced to death because he was found guilty of "corrupting the young" and apparently he did not avoid his death. I also find the Penitent Magdalene very nice. Canova did a really nice job of sculpting this. Something that I really like about the sculpture is that Canova included tears rolling down her cheeks. I hear that the reason why Canova has created two different versions of this sculpture is due to some difficulties in elaborating. Once again, this is a great post. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteHi Libbey! I really enjoyed reading your vlog post this week, you do an excellent job at dissecting each piece of art by explaining the history behind it as well as the characteristics that the painting/sculptures show. My favorite out of your three pieces of art is the Penitent Magdalene by Antonio Canova. I thought that the backstory behind this sculpture was interesting to learn, and you can definitely feel the emotion radiating out of this piece through like you said, the way her body is positioned, her facial expressions, and the other elements added. The only thing that I wondered about that piece of art was, what is she holding in her hands?
ReplyDeleteHi Libbey, absolutely great commentary on the pieces. My favorite artwork you chose is the statue by Antonio Canova. It is such as impactful piece and is a grave reminder of the effects of war. Great selection, it a powerful connection to your theme, the French Revolution. Furthermore, the second statue you chose of Voltaire also has a great connection to the Revolution, but in a more hopeful way. Moreover, the painting you chose, The Death of Socrates, is a great scene that I find quite interesting. I also had chosen this for my exhibit and the background story behind the painting is particularly unfortunate. I find this piece to truly encapsulate the Neoclassical style of artwork best. Great work!
ReplyDeleteGreat Classical Era Blog Post you created for this selection. I liked all the art pieces you have chosen for this era. My favorite one would be Penitent Magdalence by Canova. I learned a lot about the back story of these sculptures. The emotions behind the art were there for me and the elements of the art that was added to it. Thank you for sharing and I think you did a great job explaining both artworks and what it meant to you.
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