Neoclassicism: 1750-1880

Neoclassicism art originated in France during the late eighteenth century in response to the Baroque. The movement’s aim was to restore the ideals of ancient Greek and Roman art, so artists such as David and Canova used classical methods to illustrate the virtues of courage, sacrifice and patriotism.

The neoclassicism art movement came about as a result of the Enlightenment, often referred to as the Age of Reason, when a large number of individuals began to think for themselves, outside of the restrictions imposed by religion and traditional authority. Literary leaders such as Voltaire began to use intellectual wit to mock vice and praise equality, diligence and sincere behaviour. A widespread mistrust of the aristocracy’s irresponsible way of life developed across Europe and further a field, eventually leading to political revolution in France and America under the banner of freedom and democracy.

The moral revolution materialised in the art world through a desire for paintings to instruct the population as they had the Greek and Romans, so that attitudes of morality and virtue could touch people and steer them away from wasteful living. Just as Classical art had focused on serious subjects portrayed in a serious way, so Neoclassicism imitated this style and intent. A famous example of this can be seen in Jacques Louis David’s Death of Socrates. In this painting, Socrates, surrounded by his followers, is about to drink poisonous hemlock because he was unlawfully condemned to death for his beliefs. Coming two years before the outbreak of the French Revolution, this painting gave the nation a moral lesson in martyrdom and remaining true to oneself in the name of justice.

In addition to selecting a Greek subject from history, David painted the scene in a typically severe classical style, concentrating on figures that bore similarity with famous classical statues, highlighted using Caravaggio’s Tenebrism set against a dark background for dramatic impact. The message of the work helped elevate David to become a leading Neoclassical artist of the French Revolution, painting portraits of its champions and restructuring the art establishment in France.

Our Art on Demand gallery contains the following neoclassical art prints, posters and canvases: