The Paintings of Rococo, Neoclassicism, and Romanticism - Essay Example

The Paintings of Rococo, Neo icism, and Romanticism As the 17th century drew to a close, artists captured the optimistic mood with the Rococo style of painting. It had a cheerful and pastel atmosphere that radiated the affable attitude that accompanied the close of the Renaissance era. "Pilgrimage by Cythera" is one of the finer examples of the Rococo style. Painted by Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) it portrays a whimsical scene of nature and surreal characters (Pilgrimage by Cythera). It blends the typical Rococo colors of mauve, light blue, and rose together with a nature scene.

We see the angelic cherubs lifting off the ground as a sign that love is in the air. The subjects are well mannered, smartly attired, and joining in lighthearted conversation. "Pilgrimage by Cythera" draws the viewer into the scene with its non-threatening use of composition. Rococo paintings would often use a touch of nudity and coy scenes to elicit a feeling of naughtiness. The end of the 18th century witnessed a return to a more formal style of painting known as Neoclassicism. More serious subjects replaced the gaiety of Rococo and color became more dark and brooding.

The "Oath of the Horatii", commissioned in 1784, was painted by Jacques-Louis David (Jacques-Louis David). It is a sharply contrasted painting with sharp edges and depicting conflict. The painting uses abrupt angles to capture a cold and rigid feeling. In David's painting we see the intricate attention to detail that is displayed in the architecture and the metal swords reflect the sharpness of the tone. The women are sullen as if saddened by an upcoming loss or introspecting on their subservient position that was common of the period.

The period of 1800-1850 saw the introduction of Romanticism in art. The paintings were often directed toward nationalism and regularly used to portray historical events. In Eugne Delacroix's "Massacre at Chios" we see Greeks waiting their impending slaughter by the Turks (Massacre at Chios). The human form is more detailed and more serious. The colors are more realistic and haunting. Many Romanticism pieces depicted scenes of bravery and triumph, but generally reflected a respect for human emotion.

When art goes through its revolutions and style periods, it is generally a rebellion against the previous style. Rococo, Neoclassic, and Romantic styles followed this pattern. Though each style carried over some characteristics of the previous era, There were also sharp contrasts. They were all rooted in reality and used the human body as the centerpiece in their composition. They also reflected the mood of the public at the time. Though each style sometimes wandered to the edge of believability, they depicted what the audience could understand as real.

Though they had similarities that carried across the styles, they each created their own trademark style. Rococo had pastel colored scenery and curvaceous form. This was discarded in the Neoclassical period and replaced by the disciplined lines and harsher colors. These changes captured a different emotional content and appealed to a different emotional level. Rococo had its sense of frivolity while the Neoclassic sparked feelings of a rigid and stricter belief system. The Romantic, caught between the two, captured a sense of conflict and pageantry.

The Neoclassical period, though different in content, had returned to a softer depiction of the world and a harking back to the Rococo style. References Jacques-Louis David: The Oath of the Horatii (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2007, from http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/his/CoreArt/art/neocl_dav_oath.html Massacre at Chios (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2007, from http://www.cs.wayne.edu/zhw/csc691/tour1pic4detail.html Pilgrimage by Cythera (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2007, from http://www.artchive.com/artchive/W/watteau/pilgrimage.jpg.html