ARTS OF THE NEOCLASSIC PERIOD

NEOCLASSICISM, 1780-1840

The word neoclassic came from the Greek word “neos” meaning “new” and the Latin
word classicus which is similar in meaning to the English phrase first class.

The Western movement in decorative and visual arts was called Neoclassicism. It
also applies to literature, theater, music, and architecture that were influenced by the
classical art and culture of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

The Neoclassical movement coincided with the 18th century Age of Reason also
known as the Age of Enlightenment. The art style in this period was brought about
by the renewed interest in Greek and Roman classics.

Neoclassical art pieces such as paintings, sculpture and architecture generally portrayed
Roman history which elevated the Roman heroes.

Characteristics:

1. portrayal of Roman history

2. formal composition
3. the use of diagonals to show the peak of an emotion or moment (versus a regular moment)
4. local color
5. overall lighting
6. classic geo-structure

Neoclassicism Classicism

This is the renewed interest in This is the period in which Greek and
classical ideals and forms that Human principles and styles were
influenced European and American reflected in society.
society through idea, politics and fine
arts during the 18th and 19th century.
It also refers to the art forms created
after but inspired by the ancient times.
This period was derived from the
Classicism movement.

Be careful not to interchange the two terms.

Classicism refers to the art forms produced in antiquity or inspired by it

afterward, while Neoclassicism always refers to the art forms inspired by
ancient times but created later.

A. Neoclassical Painting
 Neoclassical artists embraced the ideals of order and moderation in which artistic
interpretations of classic Greek and Roman history were restored to realistic portrayals.
Neoclassical painters gave great importance to the costumes, settings, and details of
classical subject-matter without adding distracting details but with as much historical
accuracy as possible.

Neo-Classical Artists

1. Jacques-Louis David
(1748-1825) France

SELF PORTRAIT OF JACQUES-LOUIS DAVID

Jacques-Louis David was an influential French painter in the neoclassical style and
considered to be the pre-eminent painter of the era. His subjects of paintings were
more on history.

Famous Artworks:

1. The Death of Marat

David’s Masterpiece shows the portrayal of

revolutionary martyr. This is a painting of the
murdered French revolutionary leader Jean-Paul
Marat.

2. Napoleon Crossing the Alps

The painting that showed a strongly idealized

view of the real crossing that Napoleon and his
Army made across the Alps through the Great
St. Bernard Pass in May 1800.

3. Oath of the Horatti (J. DAVID)

 It was a large painting that depicts a
scene from a Roman legend about the
dispute between Rome and Alba Longa.
The three brothers, all of whom appear
willing to sacrifice their lives for the good of
Rome, are shown saluting their father who
holds their swords out for them.

2. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
(1780-1867) France

Ingres was a pupil of Jacques Louis David. He

was influenced by Italian Renaissance painters like
Raphael, Nicolas Pousin, Botticelli, and his mentor,
JacquesLouis David. His paintings were usually nudes,
portraits, and mythological themes. He was regarded as
one of the great exemplars of academic art and one of
the finest Masters of his era.

Famous Artworks:

1. Portrait of Napoleon on the Imperial Throne

The painting depicts Napoleon in his

decadent coronation costume, seated
upon his golden-encrusted throne,
hand resting upon smooth ivory balls.
During his reign, the painting was
owned by the Corps Legislative which
was a part of the French Legislative.
The painting was believed to be
commissioned by Napoleon a King.
 2. The Apotheosisof Homer

The painting was a state-commission by

Charles X to have him remembered in
the building works of the Louvre. The
painting depicts an image of Homer,
receiving all the brilliant men of Rome,
Greece, and contemporary times.

a. Neoclassical Sculpture
The Neoclassical period was one of the great ages of public sculpture.
Artists looked to Roman styles during the time of Alexander the Great for
inspiration as well as to mimic their style.

Neoclassical Sculptors

1. Antonio Canova (1757-1822) Italy

He was a prolific Italian artist and sculptor who became

famous for his marble sculptures that delicately rendered nude
flesh.

He opened the idea for portraying discrete sexual

pleasures by using pure contours with is mythological
compositions.

Famous artworks:

1. Psyche Awakened by Cupid’s Kiss

2. 2. Washington
 A marble A marble sculpture of
sculpture portraying the Washington currently displayed
relationship of Psyche and Cupid. at North Carolina Museum of
History.

3. Bertel Thorvaldsen (1789-1838) Denmark

Thorvaldsen was the first internationally acclaimed

Danish artist. He executed sculptures of mythological and
religious themes characters.

Famous artworks:

1. Christ
2. Lion of Lucerne
 A marble sculpture
of resurrected Christ A sculpture of dying lion Lucerne,
current located Switzerland that commemorates the
at the Swiss Guards who were Massacred in
Thorvaldsen Museum. 1792 during the French evolution

Reflection:
1. What are the characteristics of the Neoclassical sculptures?
2. How do the artists convey their ideas in their artworks?

b. NEOCLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

Neoclassical architectural styles started in the mid-18th century. It turned away

from the grandeur of Rococo style and the Late Baroque. In its purest form,
Neoclassical architecture was a style principally derived from the architecture of
Classical Greece and Rome and the architectural designs of the Italian architect
Andrea Palladio.

Types of Neoclassical Architecture:

 1. Temple Style

Temple style building design was based on an ancient temple. These buildings
were uncommon during the Renaissance as architects of that period focused mainly
on applying classical elements to churches and modern buildings like palazzos and
villas.
Many temple style buildings feature a peristyle (a continuous line of columns around
a building), a rare feature of Renaissance architecture.

Most Famous Temple Style Building of the Neoclassical Age

BRITISH MUSEUM, London, Robert

PANTHEON, Paris, by Jacques-Germain Soufflot Smirke

LA MADELEINE DE PARIS, by Pierre-Alexandre

Vignon

2. Palladian Style

Palladian buildings were based on Andrea Palladio’s style of villa construction. Some of the
buildings feature a balustrade which is a railing with vertical supports along the edge of the
roof. There are vertical supports within a balustrade known as “balusters” or spindles”. It is
also a classical method of crowning a building that has a flat or low-lying roof. One of the
famous architects in the era was:

Robert Adam (1728-1792) Britain

 He was known as the Palladian architect of the Neoclassical who designed two well-
known American civic buildings- The White House and the United States Capitol. He had also
designed many country houses.

Famous artworks:

White House

UNITED STATES CAPITOL

These mansions illustrate that while Palladian architecture shares certain basic features,
(derived from the villas of Palladio) it takes diverse forms.

3. Classical Block Style

The building features a rectangular or square plan, with a flat roof and an
exterior rich in classical detail. The exterior features a repeated classical pattern or
series of arches and/or columns. The overall impression of such a building was a
huge, classically decorated rectangular block.

Classical block aesthetic was also known as “Beaux-Arts style” since it was
developed principally by the French École des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts).
 Classical block architecture also flourished in the United States, particularly in New
York.

Famous Architects of this architectural style were:

a. Henri Labrouste- His Famous Masterpiece is the Library of Sainte-Genevive

LIBRARY OF SAINTE-GENEVIÈVE
(H. Labrouste)

b. Charles Garnier – He designed the most famous classical block of all which is the
Palais Garnier (a Neo baroque opera house).

Palais Garnier (Paris Opera

House)
Activity 1. 3 Pics 1 Artist: Given the descriptions and characteristics of artworks from the
different artist on “What Is It”, analyze and identify which period and artist does the three photos
represent and briefly answer the questions below

3 Period___________
Artist____________

1
_____
Period__________
Artist___________
______

4 Period________
Artist__________
_______

2 Period__________
Artist___________
______

POST ASSESSMENT
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Read and understand each question. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answer on your
answer sheet.
____1. Who among the following famous artist made the marble sculpture portraying the relationship of Psyche and Cupid?
A. Antonio Canova C. Charles Garnier
B. Bertel Thorvaldsen D. Robert Adam
____2. He was known as the Palladian architect of the Neoclassical who designed two well-known American civic
buildings- The White House and the United States Capitol.
He had also designed many country houses.
A. Bertel Thorvaldsen C. Jacques-Louis David
B. Charles Garnier D. Robert Adam
____3. A movement coincided with the 18th century age of Reason also known as the age of enlightenment.
A. Ancient C. Neoclassical
B. Classicism D. Romantic
____4. Many temple buildings feature a Peristyle, what is the meaning of the underlined word?
A. a continuous break of line in the building
B. a continuous line of Columns around the building
C. C. a continuous line of Bricks under the building
D. an arc made of lines to form a column.
____5. Who was a prominent painter during the Neoclassic era whose subject of painting were more on history?
A. Bertel Thorvaldsen C. Jacques-Louis David
B. Charles Garnier D. Jean Augusto Ingres
____6. It is a building design based in an Ancient temple and was famous during the Renaissance Architecture.
A. Corinthian style C. Palladian Style
B. Ionic Style D. Temple Style
____7. Which of the following is a Masterpiece of Henri Labrouste?
A. Boston Public Library C. New York Public Library
B. Library of Saint Genevieve D. Paris Opera House
____8. A period of the great ages of public sculpture. Artist during this period looked to Roman styles during the time of
Alexander the Great for inspirations as well as to mimic their style.
A. Ancient sculpture C. Neoclassical Sculpture
B. Neo Classical Architecture D. Romantic paintings
____9. A style which was also known as “Beaux-Arts Style” since it was developed principally by the School of Fine Arts.
A. Classical block aesthetic C. Palladian Style
B. Ionic Style D. Temple Style
____10. He was the first acclaimed Danish artist who executed sculptures of mythological and religious themes characters.
A. Bertel Thorvaldsen C. Jacques-Louis David
B. Charles Garnier D. Jean Augusto Ingres
____11. His paintings were characterized by nudes, portraits, and mythological themes. He was regarded as one of the
Great exemplars of academic art and one of the finest Old masters of his Era.
A. Bertel Thorvaldsen C. Jacques-Louis David
B. Charles Garnier D. Jean-Augusto Ingres
____12. He designed the most famous classical block of all which is the Palais Garnier or the Neo Baroque Opera House.
A. Bertel Thorvaldsen C. Jacques-Louis David
B. Charles Garnier D. Jean-Augusto Ingres
____13. It is a building design based on Andrea Palladio’s Style of Villa Construction which uses a vertical support along
the edge of its roofs.
A. Beaux-Arts style C. Palladian Style
B. Ionic Style D. Temple Style
____14. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Neoclassicism?
A. Classical geo-structure C. Portrayal of Roman history
B. formal formation D. Use of vivid colors
____15. He was prolific Italian Artist and Sculptor who became famous for his marble sculptures that delicately rendered
nude flesh.
A. Antonio Canova C. Charles Garnier
B. Bertel Thorvaldsen D. Robert Adam

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY

Direction: Reflect and understand on the following questions.

1. If you are given a chance to become a painter what paintings in Neoclassical arts will you use? Why?

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. How will you apply the techniques in Neoclassical arts in making a design?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
PERFORMANCE TASK: INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY
Directions: Paint or sketch an illustration showing the ideas of neoclassical arts. Observe the usage and
application of the elements of arts.
Materials: Short bond paper, Art and coloring materials
Reflection:
1. What is the subject of your artwork?
2. How did you apply the elements of arts to lines, color, and texture?
3. What did you feel while doing your artwork?