Chapter Sixteen

The Eighteen Century:

From Rococo to Revolution

Age of Diversity
Unqualified optimism, extreme discontent
Trust in science and human reason
Conscious engagement with social issues
Revolutionaries and conservatives
Enlightened despots
Welfare of citizenry
Duty and responsibility

Above:DavidsOathoftheHoratii
Right:GainsboroughsHaymaker
AndSleepingGirl

The Rococo
fantasy life of the last
European aristocrats

The Visual Arts in the Eighteenth Century

The Rococo Style

Escapism, anti-baroque
Frivolity, lightheartedness
Art as entertainment for aristocracy
Eroticism, voluptuous beauty (a la Rubens)

Jean Antoine Watteau (1684-1721)

Fetes galantes
Return from Cythera (1717)

Watteau, Return from Cythera (1717)

Boucher, Cupid
a Captive
(1754)

Fragonard, Love
Letters (1773)

Fragonards
TheBolt
Notehowthe
hunkyfellow
inshortpants
isboltingthe
door.
Whatwill
happen
next???

Carriera, Anna Sofia

dEste, Princess of
Modena (1730)

The use of pastels

makes this rococo
portrait look
especially dreamy

TheEnglishman
GainesboroughsMrs.
PeterWilliamBaker

The tres rococo Salon de la Princesse, Hotel de Soubise, Paris

The ultra rococo

nave and high altar
of Vierzehnheiligen
Pilgrim Church,
Bamberg, Germany
(1743-1772)

The Visual Arts in the Eighteenth Century

Neo-Classical Art
Archeological inspiration
New awareness of classical art
Inspired by discoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum
Appealed to revolutionaries in France and America

Roman Republic, French Revolution

Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825)
United opposition to tyranny
Modeled on ideals of Roman Republic

Austere poses, orderly decoration

Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792)

Davids Napoleon
Crossing the Alps
(1800)

The Visual Arts in the Eighteenth Century

Neo-Classical Architecture
Classical models of architecture
Austere public buildings
Thomas Jeffersons State Capitol (17851796)

Literature in the Eighteenth Century

Intellectual Developments
Systematic examination of society
Pessimistic views vs. Optimistic views

Renewed interest in Classical culture

Translations, themes, forms, references

Rise of Feminism
Mary Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the
Rights of Women (1792)

Literature in the Eighteenth Century

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

Hatred for human race
Savage indignation
Animals capable of reason

Gullivers Travels
Satire of human behavior

A Modest Proposal
Mans inhumanity to man
Inevitability of human suffering

Literature in the Eighteenth Century

Rational Humanism: The Encyclopedists
Encyclopdie

Denis Diderot (1713-1784)

System for the classification of knowledge
Compendium of human rationality
Freedom of conscience and belief

The Late Eighteenth Century:

Time of Revolution
Technological improvements
Increased literacy, circulation of ideas
Governmental abuses
Louis XV: Aprs moi le dluge

The Reign of Terror

Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794)
Essentiality of constitutional government

The Late Eighteenth Century:

Time of Revolution
American Revolution
Inspired revolution in France

Jeffersons Declaration of Independence

Optimistic, rational view

Political and social freedom
Equality and justice
Universality of man and nature

The Feminist Revolution

Mary Wollstonecraft (1739-1797)

Vindication of the Rights of Women
Similar sentiments to French declaration of
rights of man and American declaration of
independence, both of which excluded
women
First statement of womens inherent rights
Women not subservient objects for men, but
free, rational beings possessed of strength and
dignity and deserving of respect

Here ends our lecture upon

the 18th Century
This is George Washington,
sculpted in 1778 and looking
very neo-classical. He is
standing next to a fasces, a
bundle of rods bound together
around an ax with the blade
projecting. Fasces were
carried before ancient Roman
magistrates as an emblem of
authority. Note the symbolism
of how Washington has
covered and softened the ax
blade with his hand and a
piece of cloth..