Art History (Lesson 21/4): Neoclassicism/Mengs,Kobke,Kauffmann,Juel,Stubbs,Hamilton

Art History (Lesson 21/4): Neoclassicism/Anton Raphael Mengs,|Christen Kobke,Angelica Kauffmann,Jens Juel,George Stubbs,Gavin Hamilton:

Neoclassicism was the dominant style of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In its purest form, Neoclassical art is severe and high-minded - often linked with the fervent political ideals of the time - but it also has more intimate and decorative aspects.
The prefix “neo” comes from the Greek word for “new so “Neoclassicism” means “new classicisme’. Thé style was inspired by the art of classical Greece and Rome specifically its qualities of ‘’noble simplicity and calm grandeur’ These are the words of Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1717-68), a German scholar whose writings played an important role in spreading the ideals of Neoclassicism.
Origins and Influences Neoclassicism originated in Rome, a city with unrivalled remains of ancient buildings and sculpture. Knowledge of ancient art increased greatly in the 18th century, partly because of archaeological discoveries in Rome and in Herculaneum and Pompeii, two buried cities near Naples. Thousands of artifacts were excavated, many of which were published as engravings, which were influential in spreading Neoclassical taste.
Subjects Neoclassical artists were often inspired by Greek and Roman history, ; literature, and myth, but they also treated many other subjects. These included staples, such as portraits and landscapes, but also more innovative themes from the political and social events of the time. The 18th century is often loosely described as the Age of Enlightenment, in reference to the prevailing philosophical outlook, which questioned traditional beliefs and stressed the primacy of rational thought. The Neoclassical style, with its emphasis on order and clarity, was very much in tune with this spirit, and some artists — above all Jacques-Louis David — used their work as a vehicle for their moral convictions.