ART 1001 Module 5
Video on Jacques-Louis David's The Oath of the Horati Take notes on the iconography of this painting. How does it symbolize the events taking place in France ahead of the Revolution?
* Three brothers from each side to battle it out, things get complicated because of intermarriages between the two families *families will be torn apart no matter who wins *people must make sacrifices of themselves and their families for the ideals of the revolution Figures: +women sit curvilinear, passive eyes closed suggesting that women could not be true citizen of the state. Women can only think about the personal and the familial, victimized *male figures are rigid, upright, tall, strong, angular, raise their arms together in a sense of purpose, are working in unison
Boucher: Rococo Painting
*Boucher continued the Rococo style in painting *made female nude a central subject of Rococo art *Boucher other point of view represented in art: novelties and the empowerment of the middle class *Education in the modern sense was invented, books were written about child rearing Examples: Boucher, Odalisque, 1745, oil on canvas. François Boucher, Cupid a Captive, 1754, oil on canvas
Palace in Würzburg (Residenz)
*Giambattista Tiepolo and his two sons cornered the market for illusionistic ceiling decorations for palaces in Venice and beyond *Giambattista and his two sons set out to Germany to complete their biggest commission ever *Prince-Bishop Karl Philipp von Greiffenklau requested a magnificent ceiling for his Residenz e.g. Giambattista Tiepolo, The Apotheosis of the Pisani Family, ceiling fresco from the Villa Pisani, Stra, 1761-1762 Giambattista Tiepolo and sons, Grand Staircase with Apollo and the Four Continents, Residence Palace, Würzburg, 1750-1752, ceiling fresco Giambattista Tiepolo and sons, Apollo and the Four Continents, Residence Palace, Würzburg, 1750-1752, ceiling fresco
Absolutism in France and King Louis XIV
*King Louis XIV embodied Absolutism, he believed to be appointed by God directly *moved Court to Versailles and began the construction of the largest palace know at that time *middle of 17th century France was leading power in Europe, politically and cultural *King Louis XIV became ill at the end of his reign, he kept enabling wars that he lost putting France in a financial dilemma and setting France of for the French Revolution of 1789
Video on Jacques-Louis David's The Death of Marat: How has he chosen to depict Marat? What are some similarities to his previous "revolutionary martyrs"?
*Marat is depict as a good person, innocent, ideally beautiful *aristocrats actions are depict as brutal and she is shown as duplicity
Video on Jacques-Louis David's The Death of Marat: What was revolutionary about the subject of this painting?
*a political martyr
Video on Jacques-Louis David's The Oath of the Horati How is this work connected to the philosophies and ideas that came out of the Enlightenment?
*art depicts virtuous behavior *philosophers posset the idea that rational should supersede tradition and the spiritual
Watteau: Rococo Painter
*captures carefree life and celebrates the pursuit of happiness in his art *Typically for Watteau, there is an English garden with lush and moist vegetation in the background: nature can grow freely (opposite of French gardens before this period)
Regency Period (France)
*early 18th century: new ideas and new art styles are on the rise *Rococo = Enlightenment *Rococo more comprehensive style as it in includes: interior design, fashion, theater, and painting *King Louis XIV died and Duke of Orléans became the Regent and heralded the start of the Regency period New ideals: new ideas, new technologies, and the enjoyment of life VS.. emphasized self-discipline, self-sacrifice, and denial of one's interest for the higher good of the state
Chardin: Departure from the Rococo Style (France)
*epitomized the taste of the bourgeoisie (the middle class, not the aristocracy) *became famous due to his still life paintings and portraits of children at play EXAMPLE: Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, The Rayfish, 1727, oil on canvas Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, Grace at Table, 1740, oil on canvas
Rococo Interior Design: Hôtel de Soubise
*excellent example for the growth in luxury consumption during the Regency period innovative aspects: *octagonal room *wooden paneling with integrated paintings and sculptural elements *gilded plaster moldings *Mirrors became more accessible and were incorporated *series of oil paintings
18th Century Venetian Paintings
*influenced by absolutism under Louis XIV *in political decline, art/ architecture new golden age *high demand of private commission pieces (e.g. ceiling paintings) mostly by wealthy patricians
Reynolds: First President of the British Academy (Britain)
*mostly a portrait painter *became first president of British Academy of Paintings EXAMPLE: Sir Joshua Reynolds, Lord Heathfield, 1787, oil on canvas
The French Revolution (1789-1799)
*one of the great historical turning points of Western society & art *intellectual background of the Revolution: all humans are born with equal rights *inequality of votes of estates *Third estates delivered an oath not to disband until a new constitution was drafted THREE PHASES of REVOLUTION: 1.Moderate Phase: monarchy abolished and Republic declared 2.Radical Phase: Terror regime under revolutionary leader Robespierre 3. Another moderate Phase under directory government until Napoleon Bonaparte IMPT: Instead of bringing liberty, the French Revolution caused, in the first instance, massive bloodshed and destruction.
Video on Jacques-Louis David's The Death of Marat: What are some formal characteristics employed by David that enhance the effect of the painting on the viewer?
*pose chosen for Marat reminds of Pieta, of Christ being mourned, vividly render
Greuze: The Moralizing Painter (France)
*specialty was bourgeois family dramas *emotional responses to art were deeply appreciated by 18th-century audiences EXAMPLE: Jean-Baptiste Greuze, The Village Bride, 1761, oil on canvas
Wright of Derby: Scientific Experiments (Britain)
*specialty was paintings of scientific experiments and natural wonders, enhanced with dramatic light effects themes of: emotional intensity, human drama, intellectual curiosity EXAMPLES: Joseph Wright of Derby, A Philosopher is Giving a Lecture at the Orrery (in which a lamp is put in place of the sun), c. 1763-1764, oil on canvas
First hotels were built during the regency period. What was their purpose?
= town houses offer furnished apartments for rent or serve as residences of extended families
"L'État, c'est moi"
="I am the State" (King Louis XIV) Absolutism
fête galante ("gallant feasts")
A fête galante describes a carefree party of well-dressed guests, suggestive of aristocrats, enjoying themselves in a park-like setting.
Palace of Versailles
A palace built in the 17th century for Louis XIV southwest of Paris near the city of Versailles. Two Purposes: 1. Impress foreign dignitaries and royalty. 2. Serving as a symbol of France's political and cultural preeminence. *more than 10,000 lived and worked at and around the palace, gardens, chapel etc.
Video: Antoine Watteau, Return from Cythera, 1717, oil on canvas ( Louvre Version) What are the differences in content and themes?
Baroque content/theme: *depicted the emotions of the people in the paintings Rococo content/theme: *lifestyle of aristocracy
Video: Antoine Watteau, Return from Cythera, 1717, oil on canvas ( Louvre Version) What are the major differences in style between the Baroque paintings we saw in the last module and Rococo?
Baroque style: *lovely passages where you can see the hand of the artist Rococo style: *
Canaletto: Venetian Vedute Painting
His specialty: panoramic city views *most of his art works very accurate and depict city views barely changed over time e.g. Canaletto, Piazza San Marco with the Basilica, oil on canvas, 1730 Canaletto, Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge from the North, oil on canvas, 1727 Canaletto, London, Westminster Bridge from the North on Lord Mayor's Day, oil on canvas, 1746.
What is the Enlightenment?
It is a key 18th-century idea. *defined the intellectual currents and discussions *arguably prepared the arrival of the modern age Enlightenment aka. Age of Reason Some intellectuals advocates: Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot, d'Alembert and d'Holbach --> ideas they stood for: tolerance, freedom of opinion, and the rule of law to govern society, opposed discrimination, denounced slavery in the colonies, opposed abuse of power by church or state IMPT: concept of Equality very important!
Roots of Neoclassicism
Jacques-Louis David: *artist and politician *member of Revolutionary parliament and voted for Louis XVI death *preferred neoclassical style EXAMPLE: Jacques-Louis David, The Oath of the Horatii, 1784, oil on canvas. Johann Heinrich Wickelmann: *introduced the idea that art developed in cycles from archaicism, to perfection, to decline
Video on Jacques-Louis David's The Oath of the Horati How does Neoclassicism differ from Rococo in terms of formal style and iconography?
Neoclassicism *classicizing style, looking back to Ancient Greece/Rome, reminds of an relief carving *interest in anatomy of the body, depicting the musculature and movement *speaks of virtue of simplicity Rococo: *lushness and luxurious paintings *indulgence in Rococo style
Video: Antoine Watteau, Return from Cythera, 1717, oil on canvas ( Louvre Version) Who are the Rubenistes and Poussinistes? What are the major differences in their approaches to painting?
Rubenistes: (artist) *color was most important *outlines soft *figures emerge into background Poussinistes: (French artists) *line is most important *clear outline and internal modeling *finish the way you don't see the brush work was most important
