Classical Era Exhibit - Morality in the Arts
Morality of the Arts In the Classical Era
With the Baroque era, art became a propagandistic measure and very serious in nature. The following Classical era resulted in more liberated images in art. Largely this shift was caused by the shift form the monarchy to the aristocracy. The aristocracy of the Classical era held the majority of the wealth and lived in a very lush fashion, laid back and drastically different than the average residents of the time.
Above is the painting Pilgrimage to Cythera from 1717 by Antoine Watteau, an artist that largely led art in the direction of the Rococo style during the Classical Era. Antoine Watteau was among the the first artists to start painting in the fete galante style, with depictions of well dressed aristocrats in nature settings. This perfectly embodies to posh life that the aristocracy created for themselves during the time with extravagant clothing and accessories. Pilgrimage to Cythera also capture the nonchalance of the Classical era, that came about due to the lax in the control of art after the Baroque era. The setting of a park for such fancy attire is a silly notion, and seems very juxtaposed, making a much less serious environment. The composition being assertively asymmetrical furthers these notions and leans well into the light pastels that became popular during the Classical era. i think the piece is befitting of a room decorated in light colors with natural light to appeal to the depicted sky in the painting. Pilgrimage to Cythera was originally created in Paris and can now be found there at the Louvre.
The Interrupted Sleep from 1750 by Francois Boucher is a painting from the heart of the Classical era and elements of this shine through. Once again the presence of fancy attire in a nature setting is depicted, encapsulating the fete galante style. Boucher's painting shows a woman asleep in the woods wearing a full dress and various items falling off of her lap. The concept of taking a nap in the wilderness in such attire is absurd and shows the non-realistic take of the Rococo style in the Classical era. While Boucher's composition is darker than that of Watteau, it still carries those light pastel colors that are consistent across paintings of the era. The Interrupted Sleep is an interesting painting as the viewer's eye gravitates toward the center due to the oval ring of shadow around the focus. Due to this the painting in a fashion frames itself, not needing any further support beyond the canvas. This piece was created in Paris and is now at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Lastly, The Swing from 1767 by Jean-Honoré Fragonard represents another element of the Classical era - sensuality. The Swing is an excellent composition with very highlighted focus, drawing the viewer in with ease. The natural lighting of the fete galante setting feels very natural with the breaks in the canopy seen above. As for the indication of the subject itself, it lies pretty clearly with a woman lifting her leg to give her lover a view up her skirt. The dramatic lighting combined with the light pastels and ridiculous notion perfectly aligns with the style of the era, with the aristocracy living eccentric lives and the dreaminess. The Classical era lends itself to a strange setting for many different paintings with consistent themes of fanciness and romanticism across many. The Swing was also created in Paris but can now be found at the Wallace Collection in London.
Works Cited
Dr. Ashley Bruckbauer, "Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Swing," in Smarthistory, February 26, 2021, https://smarthistory.org/jean-honore-fragonard-the-swing/. Accessed October 22, 2024
“The Interrupted Sleep.” Metmuseum.org, 2022, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435738.
Zaczek, Iain. "Pilgrimage to Cythera". Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Nov. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pilgrimage-to-Cythera. Accessed 22 October 2024.
I really enjoyed your analysis of the art of the Classical era! Your insights into Watteau’s Pilgrimage to Cythera perfectly capture its charm and whimsy. The way you highlight the contrast between the lavish lifestyle of the aristocracy and the playful nature of the scenes is spot on. I also appreciate your observations about Boucher’s Interrupted Sleep. You’ve done an excellent job connecting these works to the broader theme of morality in the arts. The shift from the serious Baroque to the more liberated Rococo style reflects the aristocracy's carefree attitude. Your commentary on how these paintings celebrate and critique their subjects is fascinating and encourages deeper reflection on the nature of happiness and fulfillment during this period.
ReplyDeleteI think your analysis was well done and connected to the theme. I also liked how you pointed out the uniqueness of Interrupted Sleep, with how it frames itself in the way it was constructed. Your use of Pilgrimage to Cythera was a strong starting point to explain the Classical Era and what art styles emerged from it.
ReplyDeleteI like your analysis of Rococo political themes. I have viewed the Rococo art style during the Classical era as trivial and somewhat childish. The idea of it being a liberated freedom of artistic expression after the Baroque suppression is very eye opening to me. The eccentricism you highlight in the paintings you have chosen are what draws me into the aristocrat driven era. The lack of shoes in The Interrupted Sleep and The Swing are details I wouldn’t have noticed without your commentary on the lack of realism in these paintings.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your analysis on these pieces. Personally, I enjoy some of the themes of Rocco art, such as the pastel colors and use of naturalism mixed with formality. I don't, however, much care for what they represent, especially at the time. In all honesty, all I could think of as I looked over these paintings were those little porcelain shepherdess statuettes you see some grandmas collect. So, I did some research, and lo and behold, those type of statuettes became popular around the 18th century during the rise of the Romanticism movement. Thus, I'm quite certain that Rocco style art was probably a direct inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI like the bright focus points in the art shown. I agree that everything does seem very lighthearted with the theme of this art compared to the time they were going through. I like your comments on the artwork and how you include where the artwork is currently located.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of the shift from the Baroque to the Classical era is spot-on. The transition to a more liberated and less serious style in art, as seen in Watteau's "Pilgrimage to Cythera," really captures the essence of the aristocratic lifestyle. The fete galante style, with its depictions of well-dressed aristocrats in natural settings, perfectly illustrates the nonchalance and extravagance of the time. Boucher's "The Interrupted Sleep" continues this theme, showcasing the leisurely and opulent life of the aristocracy in a relaxed, natural environment.
ReplyDeleteI liked you analysis and how you included the shift from the Baroque era to the Classical. I also like how you demonstrated the lavishness of the aristocracy in paintings. I also chose The Swing for my blog! Your last paragraph mentioned consistent themes of fanciness and romanticism across many Classical era paintings. I do think it's important to note that there was a shift in subject matter when the Neoclassical style became prominent.
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