Mohawk College: Neoclassicism Art Movement Analysis and Significance

This essay critically analyzes the Neoclassicism art movement, which drew inspiration from classical arts and the Enlightenment era. It explores the movement's characteristics, including the use of straight lines, simplicity, and adherence to classical techniques. The essay discusses the contributions of key artists Jacques-Louis David and Gilbert Stuart, highlighting their notable works such as "Death of Marat" and the "George Washington" portrait. The analysis covers the historical context, artistic styles, and the impact of Neoclassicism on the history of art, emphasizing the movement's influence on painting, sculpture, and other art forms. The essay references the use of logic and reason, the portrayal of moral messages, and the shift from Rococo melodrama to more structured and symmetrical compositions. It showcases the artistic appeal of the paintings and their contribution to the history of art. The essay concludes by summarizing the key features and significance of the Neoclassicism art movement.

RUNNING HEAD: NEOCLASSICISM
Neoclassicism Era
Mohawk college
Neelkumar Patel (000761444)
Date of submission: 04/05/2020

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Introduction
Neoclassicism era is referred to the art movement which majorly drew its inspiration fro
the classical arts as well as Romans and Greek cultures. The era of neo classicism coincided with
that of 18th century era of enlightenment which continued towards the early 19th century. The
neoclassicism era encompassed all forms of arts that included sculptures, painting, decorative
arts, music, literature as well as architecture. The era introduced significant contribution of the
use of straight lines, simplicity, minimal usage of colours and the adherence towards the classical
techniques and values. According to Edgar Allan Poe, the era of neoclassicism during the time of
1780-1820 reflected glory as Greece, and grandeur as Rome. Eighteenth century was the age for
enlightenment that included preaches of the gospel regarding logic and reason by philosophers
(Strickland and Boswell, 2007). This essay will critically analyse the neoclassicism art
movement and its significance in the chapters of the history of art in the light of the contribution
by Jacques-Louis David and Gilbert Stuart .
Discussion
Neoclassicism art
In the Western period of art, Neoclassical Revolution was an influential and widespread
trend in sculpture, decorative arts, and other arts in particular. It began in Rome in 1760s and
continued until the 1850s, influenced by ancient times. Neoclassical painters used an idealist-
style perspective on the drama. With its harmony and beauty, they portrayed the subject. Simple
and precise representation of noble substance was included in neoclassical pieces. Trust in logic
has put order and "ennobling" ideals into neoclassical art (Doing et al., 2017). In the neo
classicism art movement, the paintings focused majorly over the moral message related to

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patriotism, thus substituting the principles of pleasure. The characteristic of the Neoclassical
style painting was severely drawn figures, that appeared without an illusion of profundity in the
foreground, just as in Roman relief sculptures. The painting surface was smooth, so it seemed
polished and compositions easy to avoid Rococo melodrama. Background generally featured
roman touches such as arches or columns, and irregular curves were replaced by symmetrical
and straight lines (Yan and Fei, 2018).
Jacques-Louis David
One of the most notable artist of this era was Jacques-Louis David who was a French
painter and a trendsetter imitating the roman and the Greek arts towards the inspiration of the
new French republic. Perhaps the last success of conventional history painting was the
Neoclassical quintessent painter, David's colossal canvases. In the latest Greco-Roman tradition,
David combined these ancient subjects with the theory of illumination to create spiritual
examples (Chow, 2019). His paintings have fully dismissed the decorative and painting effects of
the Rococo and produced solid, didactical works of moral clarification with few distractions or
painting flora. The artistic appeal that was specifically conveyed to a large audience was fulfilled
through David's neo classicism paintings. One of his masterpiece is the “Death of Marat”. The
painting significantly contributed to the history of art as the propaganda for the republic for
electrifying as well as planting the seeds of victory as well as devotion towards the fatherland
(Damercheli, Rezvani & Salehi, 2019). Death of Marat was painted after the radical
revolutionary stabbing of one of the closest friend of the painter. The painting portrayed a cold
and black background while the painter furthermore emphasized the blood-stained towel, the box
and knife which were some of the actual objects worshipped by the public as the holy relics.

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David, "Death of Marat," 1793, Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, Brussels.
The painter drew the assassination of the revolutionary hero as the modern day Christ.
His painting showcased tight , smooth and glossy finishes which made an example of the
revolutionary neoclassic painting (Gale, 2016).
Gilbert Stuart
Another notable painter of the neoclassic period was Gilbert Stuart. Belonging from the
era of 1755- 1828 , this American neo classical painter refused to follow any of the established
recipes for painting. His significance and contribution to pages of the history of art included
excavation of nature through naked eyes. The painter used all the colours in the palate for
approximating the flesh without any blending (Stevens, 2017). With a pre impressionist
approach, the painter was equivalent of a court painter for the new and the emerging republic.

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His contribution to the history of art has been simplifying portraiture which passed gestures for
emphasizing the timeless aspects.
One of his renowned paintings was "George Washington," (The Athenaeum Portrait). George
Washington's portraits by Stuart indicate how the painter went further than the European
tradition. Stuart suggests that excellence only comes from an individual character by striping all
non-essential item (the history has never been complete) (Sharykov, 2016). He removed the
smallpox wounds of Washington but showed his resilience in a wide mouth line. This image has
been the most renowned American portrait ever, showcasing the portrait of a renowned figure.
Picture - Stuart, "George Washington," (The Athenaeum Portrait), 1 796, Museum of Fine Arts
Conclusion
Neoclassicism was the influential and widespread art movement which started during the
1760s, grew high in the 1780s and 1840s and continued until the 1990s. When it was drawn, the
focus in classical themes and subjects was in general on austere, linear design, using
archeologically accurate settings and costumes. The use of straight lines, a smooth paint surface

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hideing the brush, the show of light, minimal use of color as well as a simple and precise
description of forms define Neoclassical paintings. The subject typically concerns both Greco-
Roman history or other cultural characteristics such as allegories and virtues. The works and the
painting by Jacques-Louis David and Gilbert Stuart as stated above were the epitome of the
neoclassical paintings.

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References
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Tonal and Topical Elements at the Keyboard (Doctoral dissertation).
Damercheli¹, A., Rezvani, N. S., & Salehi, E. (2019). The Use of Neoclassicism in Regeneration
of the Tajrish Square in Tehran.
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framework for research in Neoclassicism. In DH.
Gale, C. L. (2016). A Study Guide for" Neoclassicism". Gale, Cengage Learning.
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a new classic in ballet theater XX-th− beginning of XXI-th century. INNOVATIVE
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Yan, L., & Fei, C. (2018, August). Analysis on the Characteristics of the Neoclassical Art.
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