Neoclassicism and Romanticism: European Art Movements

Neoclassicism: Art in an Age of Revolution

At the outbreak of the French Revolution, Neoclassicism was the dominant art style. It was maintained during the Revolution and the Napoleonic Empire, but it left its academic, customary, and courtly confines to become a witness to the historical events of the moment.

Key Figures and Manifestations

• In architecture, triumphal arches and commemorative columns were erected, such as the Vendôme Column, built to celebrate Napoleon's victory at the Battle of Austerlitz.
• Canova created portraits of Napoleon and his family, with the sculpture of Pauline Bonaparte being particularly emphasized.
• Jacques-Louis David was the official painter of the French Revolution, a role reflected in works such as The Oath of the Tennis Court or The Death of Marat. Later, he painted The Coronation of Napoleon.

Romanticism: A New Artistic and Cultural Wave

The Napoleonic Wars brought new cultural contact with the East (Egypt, India), which began to influence European culture. Moreover, revolutionary movements profoundly renewed ideas and ways of life, leading to a new wave of Romanticism that had the following characteristics:

Defining Characteristics of Romanticism

• It opposed Neoclassicism, rejecting reason and classical tastes. Instead, it embraced a greater expression of feelings.
• Inspiration was sought in the Middle Ages rather than the classical era. Historical novels became fashionable, and medieval and Gothic forms were revived in architecture.
• It imposed a new worldview, affirming the supremacy of imagination, fantasy, and creativity, demanding greater freedom from academic constraints.

Romanticism Across the Arts

In architecture, styles were inspired by Eastern and medieval forms.

In painting, works often featured busy compositions and extreme, passionate sentiments, frequently introducing oriental themes. Highlights include the work of the French Delacroix (Liberty Leading the People) and Géricault (The Raft of the Medusa), the British Turner, and the Spanish Federico de Madrazo, author of portraits (The Countess of Vilches), and Pérez Villamil, a great landscape painter.

Romanticism affected all the arts. It was prominent in literature with authors such as Lord Byron, who died fighting for Greek independence, Walter Scott, and Victor Hugo. In music, Beethoven marked a break between Classicism and Romanticism, while composers like Brahms, Schubert, and Chopin were fully Romantic.