Neoclassicism (c. 1780 CE - 1820 CE)




Almost two thousand years ago, Mount Vesuvius erupted covering the occupants of Pompeii in several feet of ash. The city stood still until it was accidentally rediscovered in 1738.

Europeans in the 1700s were fascinated with this ancient city frozen in time by natural disaster. Discoveries such as Pompeii revitalized interest in the Classical art of Ancient Greece and Rome, which could be used to promote universal ideas such as courage and patriotism. By the late 1700s, the Age of Enlightenment spurred discovery, technology, and scientific thought in a movement toward Classical ideals.

Neoclassicism changed art techniques as well. Though they continued contrasting light and dark colors in a way similar to Baroque artists, Neoclassicists stopped using vibrant color and busy compositions. Instead, they focused on line and symmetry, using formulas of set proportions and exact perspective. These techniques generated a more uniform, ideal work of art.

The fire in the background of Befort's painting reveals the setting as Thebes, an ancient Greek city often at war. Mlle Befort might have related Thebe's conflicts to the Napoleonic Wars France fought during her lifetime. Despite the warfare evident in the setting, the young woman in Befort's painting seems surprisingly composed. What message might this send to someone living in France during the Napoleonic Wars?

A Young Woman from Thebes Tending Her Wounded Father,
1809
Mille Befort, French
(active 1812-1819)
Oil on Canvas
76 1/2 inches H; 60 1/2 inches W
Purchase: Friends Fund and Museum of Art Endowment
1996.002.000
World Events

1776 American colonies declare independence from Great Britain.

1789 The French Revolution breaks out in Paris.

1799-1815 The Napoleonic Wars take place.

1738 Lost city of Pompeii is uncovered.

1700s-1800s Industrial Revolution begins in Great Britain.

DARCY DISCUSSES: TECHNIQUE

The subjects in Neoclassical paintings often look shiny, smooth, and hard because Neoclassical painters sought to conceal their brushstrokes to imitate the polished look of marble sculpture.

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