Romanticism vs Realism During the Romantic Era

 Romanticism 

The Romantic art style that was popular during the Romantic Era refers to the glorification of subject matter in art in order to evoke an emotional response from the viewer, rather than it being “romantic’ in the traditional sense of the word. Romanticism was most prevalent at the turn of the 17th century from roughly 1800 through the 1840s. However, some romantic artists continue through the 1880s. Romanticism promoted democracy over conquering, nature over industrialization, and spiritualism over science. Often, viewers were well is of the subject matter behind these paintings because artists often based them off of current events of the time.

The Raft of the Medusa (1819) by Theodore Gericault. Oil on canvas.

       The Raft of the Medusa by Theodore Gericault is an example of a romantic piece inspired by current events. It is based on the fallout of the wrecked French Royal Navy frigate, The Medusa, in 1816. The collective drama of this large piece is supplemented by the faces of individual suffering on the faces of every sailor. The scene is a shocking one, including several dead bodies and others' frantic waving of their banners in what looks like an attempt to obtain help. The dead men are implied to have died of starvation while floating on the wreckage for thirteen days. There was a lack of lifeboats on the frigate, which resulted in some of the 150 survivors looking to clumps of floating rubber as make-shift rafts. The captain of the ship, was said to be incompetent and having gained his position through connections he had with the Burbon Restoration Government, was blamed for the tragedy. The survivors of the wreck were predominately high-ranking senior officers, attributed to the scandal of it all.

    Because this is a romantic style painting, it is meant to invoke emotions in the viewer. At first glance, one can assume that they are meant to feel sadness and sympathy for the victims of the wreck depicted in the painting. But, upon knowing the true event's that it is inspired by, maybe the viewer then feels a twinge less sympathy because the event ultimately could have been avoided. Personally, I think that this piece is a bit of a bummer, so I wouldn't have it in my home. However, I like that it is a subtle form of criticism towards aristocracy at the time. (1.)

    Not all Romantic style art was based on current events. Romantic art is relatively hard to place because it varied so much. However, it did not relate much to Rococo style art and its fancy people, in fancy clothes, doing light-hearted things. As we've seen, Romantic art can be rather dark in its subject matter. 

During the rise of Romantic art, we began to see notice in American artists. One particular group of American painters called themselves The Hudson River School. They predominately painted vast, grand landscapes in New England and upstate New York. The technique they used for creating light on the canvas is called luminism. 

Heart of the Andes (1857) by Frederic Edwin Church. Oil on canvas.

    

    Heart of the Andes by Frederic Edwin Church is a great example of luminism. This piece is not actually of northeast America, it is a landscape portrait of Ecuador during Church's nine-week travel through South America. It's not a specific place, but rather an idealized landscape. Which is part of what classifies it as a romantic painting. In the background, we see snowy mountains, and in the forefront, there is thick vegetation and a waterfall that looks to be glowing in the golden sun. On the left side of the painting, a cross can be spotted on the edge of a ledge. This emulates the intense amount of detail that this piece has. The feelings that it invokes are senses of peace and wonder. It makes me feel small amongst the grandness of nature. I'd say that I would for sure display this piece in my home. I think that it's breathtaking.

Realist

    Taking place in predominately the second half of the 18th century, realism is considered the first movement in modern art. Realism expanded what was considered art by its desire to merge art with everyday life. This was in reaction to a social and political change in the art world called "Avant-Garde." In opposition to romanticism, which often looked to nature, realism honed in on more serious subject matter rooted in realism, particularly love, death, and morality. The most notable painters of realist art were the Pre-Raphaelites, a group of English painters who believed that art before the time of Raphael, has the only time that art was great. John Everett Millais was one of the most notable realistic painters. 

Mariana (1851) by John Everett Millais. Oil on mahogany.

    Mariana  by John Everett Millais was originally displayed along with the following lines from Tennyson's Mariana,

She only said, 'My life is dreary,
He cometh not,' she said;
She said, 'I am aweary, aweary,
I would that I were dead!'

    The poem is inspired by Shakespeare's character, Mariana, in Measure by Measure; in which her fiance, Angelo, leaves her after her dowry is lost in a shipwreck. She longs to be reunited with Angelo and exists in loneliness and is confined to a moated farm, all the while still being in love with him. The autumn leaves around her insinuate the passage of time since she was rejected. In the stained glass, Millais mimicked the scene from the Chapel of Meron College, Oxford's stained glass windows. The message of the scene translates to "In Heaven, there is rest," which refers to Mariana's longing to be dead. The painting itself is extremely detailed, down to the needle stuck vertically into the embroidery in front of her. and a small mouse scampering across the floor. I think that the minute detail in this painting is very impressive, but it doesn't appeal to me enough to keep it in my home. Although, I do love a good backstory.

    

The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse (1888.) Oil on canvas.

    The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse I a famous example of realist art, although created sometime after its heyday. In this painting, a young red-haired woman drifts down a river with a solemn look on her face. It is one of three depictions of this character, this being his most famous. This piece, too, depicts the unrequited love of a young woman and is based on a poem: Alfred by Lord Tennyson. The subject matter of The Lady of Shalott is very similar to Mariana.

    The precise, meticulous detail of this painting is impressive from the ripples in the water to the flame of the candles, to the design on the Tapestry that the young woman sits upon. In Tennyson's poem, The Lady of Shalott has been imprisoned in her quarters and under a curse that prevented her from going outside or even looking out her window. The only view of the world she has is through a mirror which she looks through and weaves a tapestry of what she sees- the same tapestry that she sits on. After breaking the curse by looking through her window, she escapes to a small boat and ventures off. ( .)

    I think that this is a beautiful painting, I would definitely hang it in my home.

Works Cited

Editors of, Briticanna. “Théodore Géricault.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 22 Sept. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodore-Gericault.

Portugeis, Dr. Chloe, and Dr. Chloe Portugeis. “John William Waterhouse, the Lady of Shalott.” Smarthistory, SmartHistory.org, 26 Oct. 2022, https://smarthistory.org/waterhouse-the-lady-of-shalott/.

French and American Enlightenment

    The era of Enlightenment is an especially important one because it rippled through the entirety of the western world including the United States, whereas previous artistic eras were predominately central to Europe. At this time, there was a growing divide between the economic classes and an ever-apparent contempt for the ruling class. The stark discrepancies between the upper and lower/middle classes during the time of Enlightenment are plainly conveyed through the contrasting artistic subject matter that each beheld. Likewise, the significance American Revolution influenced art in North America just as it did all the way across the Atlantic in Europe.

The Interrupted Sleep by Francios Boucher (1750.) Oil on canvas.

    The Interrupted Sleep (1750 ) painted by french artist Francios Boucher is an example of the Rococo style utilized by nobility and the ruling class during the time of the Enlightenment. It portrays a shepherd tickling awake a young shepherdess with a feather in a beautiful wooded area. It is dreamy, romantic, and completely unrealistic. The wardrobe of the two people is uncharacteristic of their roles. The elaborate corset and bodice of the girl and the silk scarf of the boy were not possessed by actual shepherds during this time. The components of this painting that make it a Rococo painting are not only its pastel colors, carefree feel, romantic undertones, and mystical naturalistic setting. It is also the ignorant portrayal and romanticization of working-class people and is important in understanding the significance of this time period as an uprising of common people and ultimately the beginning of the downfall of the monarchy. 

    

    Would I have this painting in my home? It certainly is beautiful and the ignorance of the subject matter aside is rather romantic. So although I would like to say no, and I don’t particularly find it striking, I would say yes. Maybe I would hang it in my bathroom.

   

The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Body of His Son (1789.) Oil on canvas.

    The neoclassical style was very much in opposition to the Rococo. Where Neoclassicalism represents morality, regularity, and logic; Rococo represents dreaminess, asymmetry, and playfulness. These artistic styles reflect the polar opposite realities of the two divided classes. Neoclasicaims is meant to criticize the irresponsibility of the aristocracy and the repercussions it had on the common people. (1.)  The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Body of His Son by Jacques-Lois David is a depiction of the ancient Roman story of Lucious Junius Brutus, the believed founder of the Roman Republic. After discovering that his son was involved in a plan to overthrow him and restore the Roman monarchy, he had him put to death. This is a moment showcasing the decision to choose the prosperity of The Republic over his family. The gap of space between Brutus and his wife and daughters, who throw their heads back in despair, represents the instantaneous disconnect that Brutus’ decision has created between him and his family. Many believe this to be a commentary by David on the current events of the French Revolution. The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Body of His Son includes several characteristic aspects of Neoclasicalism, including straight lines, intentional geometry of form, and ancient Roman stories as its primary subject matter. (2.)

    

    The ideology and outrage that fueled the French Revolution were widely set into motion by the inspiration that the beginning of The American Revolution sparked. After it was shown that it was feasible to demand reform and even independence from rulers, intense criticism of the ruling class across Europe became a cornerstone of change. One of the most notable North American artists of the American Revolution was John Trumbell, who depicted battle scenes from the Revolutionary War as well as numerous portraits of the revolution’s leaders. One of the most famous of these portraits is titled George Washington Before the Battle of Trenton. 

George Washington Before the Battle of Trenton (1792-94.) Oil on canvas.

    The significance of this moment before a focal battle is emphasized by the intense scenery around him. A soldier attempts to settle a bucking horse to his left, and the looming clouds overhead allude to the intensity in the air. I, personally, don't think that I would enjoy this in my home. George Washington is just not that close to my heart.

Works Cited

   Buser, Thomas. "Mark Harden's Artchive: "Neo-Classical Art"". Artchive.Com, 2022, https://www.artchive.com/artchive/neo_classical.html.

    Crow, Thomas. "Art: The Lictors Returning To Brutus The Body Of His Sons". Learner.Org, 2022, https://www.learner.org/series/art-through-time-a-global-view/history-and-memory/lictors-returning-to-brutus-the-bodies-of-his-sons/#:~:text=Lictors%20Returning%20to%20Brutus%20the%20Bodies%20of%20his%20Sons%20demonstrates,of%20form%20and%20linear%20contours.

    

Merchant Mania

 The rise of the middle class in the Netherlands during the Baroque era was thanks to the prosperous trade economy that considerably improved the Dutch standard of living. Contemporary Dutch art began to circulate amongst the merchant class depicting celebrations, the simple joys of everyday life, and the abundance of traded goods; most often spices, silks, cotton, and porcelain. For the first time in European history, possession of contemporary art amongst the merchant class became commonplace. There were little to no church commissions due to the country being predominately Protestant, and artwork was bought popularly and sold in commercial art galleries. (1.) 

The Philosopher in Meditation by Rembrandt van Rijn (1632.) Oil on oak.

The Philosopher in Meditation is an example of Dutch art reflecting the lives of everyday people- people who weren’t royalty, nobility, or saints. In it, a monk sits with his head bowed in meditation and hands folded in his lap. A woman, who is assumed to be his wife, stokes the fire and golden sunlight is coming in from a grand window. There is actually a third figure in the painting, a woman at the top of the staircase blocking out towards the viewer. However, it’s almost impossible for the naked eye to see her because of the damage to the varnish due to age.

The painting is dimly lit, but doesn’t feel cold or grim. Contrarily, it feels warm, peaceful, and inviting. It is a depiction of home and familiarity that is accentuated by golden hues and relatable acts. The stark contrast between dark and light, shadows and highlights, reflects the theatrical elements that are characteristic of the Baroque era. Some believe that this depth in contrast and warm colors reflects the depth of knowledge that the monk holds. The small door to the monk’s right can be interpreted as the door to the mind’s hidden belly, and the staircase is the accent to higher knowledge of things that we do not understand. When interpreted this way, this painting is really a perfect metaphor for meditation. (2.)

Works Cited

    "Philosopher In Meditation" By Rembrandt – Joy Of Museums Virtual Tours". Joy Of Museums Virtual Tours, 2022, https://joyofmuseums.com/museums/europe/france-museums/paris-museums/the-louvre/philosopher-in-meditation-by-Rembrandt/. 

    "The Philosopher In Meditation By Rembrandt Van Rijn (1632)". Beauty Of Baroque ~ A Weekly Indulgence Of Art From An Amazing Era, 2022, https://beautyofbaroque.wordpress.com/2014/07/20/the-philosopher-in-meditation-by-rembrandt-van-rijn-1632/.