Rococo to Neoclassicism Neoclassicism

Neoclassicism is a re-examination of classical styles and themes that emerged in the 1700s, coinciding with the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment's focus on restructuring society, questioning traditional institutions, and valuing liberty, civic virtue, and morality led people to look back to the classical world as a model for civilized society and democratic governance.

Neoclassical paintings, prominent from the 1700s to the 1800s, feature classical subject matter (Greek or Roman) and a Renaissance-inspired style. The resurgence of interest in classicism was also fueled by excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum, which provided insights into Roman life, and by the Grand Tour, where the wealthy would travel to Italy to study ancient cultures.

Angelica Kauffman's 'Cornelia Presenting Her Children as Her Treasures' (1785) exemplifies Neoclassicism. The subject matter, taken from Roman history, highlights civic virtue and morality through Cornelia's proud presentation of her sons, who were reformers of the Roman Empire. The painting's style adheres to Renaissance ideals of composition, spatial creation, and figural forms, making it a perfect example of neoclassical painting.

La Madeleine in Paris, originally intended as a monument to Napoleon's glory, is a prime example of neoclassical architecture. Started in 1807, it closely mirrors ancient Roman temples, like the one from 20 BC shown for comparison. Key architectural features include being elevated on a high podium with a central staircase, a deep portico, and a surrounding colonnade with Corinthian columns. This replication aimed to associate Napoleon's reign with the grandeur, power, and longevity of Greco-Roman antiquity.

Thomas Jefferson championed Neoclassicism as the national architectural style for the United States, as seen in his home, Monticello (1784). Jefferson, inspired by his Grand Tour and studies of Roman and Renaissance architecture, incorporated elements like a raised podium, central staircase, and a portico with Doric columns. Despite varying political agendas (Napoleon's imperial rule vs. American democratic ideals), both used Neoclassicism to evoke feelings of power, authority, and longevity, lending credibility to their respective governmental structures.