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Characteristics of Romanticism |
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Characteristics of Romanticism |
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It is easier to understand some of the basic characteristics of Romanticism if we see them in contrast to defining traits of Neoclassicism. The painting on the left is an exemplar of Neoclassicism: David's The Death of Socrates , painted in 1787. The painting on the right is Eugène Delacroix's The Death of Sardanapalus, painted in 1827  . Click on the paintings for the enlarged view and study each carefully. Both paintings depict suicides, one from classical history, one from the Bible. Delacroix depicts the corrupt, licentious Assyrian king (whose palace was at Nineveh). Rather than be captured, he has possessions destroyed and his concubines and favorite horses slaughtered. His bed will be his funeral pyre. The cup bearer to the left brings him poison for his ritual suicide. This subject was popularized by the great Romantic poet Lord Byron, who wrote a play about Sardanapalus. | |
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Neoclassicism |
Romanticism |
| Subject matter | |
| "history" paintings most important (especially subjects from Greek or Roman history or mythology) | various subject matters; if "historical" subjects, the Bible was the source |
| Themes | |
| social, moral, ethical themes or classical or patriotic themes |
sensuous themes or religious themes |
| urban themes | interest in nature |
| Theory of art | |
| didactic: art is to teach | art is to move, inspire |
| General style | |
| clear, orderly, rational | dynamic, restless, emotional, moody |
| Composition | |
| figures parallel to picture plane | use of diagonal; dynamic |
| Space | |
| clearly defined space: box-like or bas relief | vast, unlimited; ambiguous |
| Figures | |
| idealized, generalized, statue-like | expressive, individualistic |
| Color | |
| somber, flat | vivid, intense |
| Application of paint | |
| careful application | painterly |
All images marked MAS were photographed on location by Mary Ann Sullivan. All other images were scanned from other sources or downloaded from the World Wide Web; they are posted on this password-protected site for educational purposes, at Bluffton College only, under the "fair use" clause of U.S. copyright law.