The Classical Era

 This week I will be exploring the arts of the Classical era and the major influences that were present during this era.  Throughout this era, you can find many types of classicism.  The common elements you can find in art from the Classical era include both neutral emotional feeling and neutral coloring.  On the other hand, one theme in the Classical era is Revolution and Art that I feel holds very much emotion that you can create in the paintings.  Revolution and Art relates to the Classical era in the way the art presents itself and its topics.  In this era you see many pieces of work contributed to war, leadership, and the theme of Revolution and Art is just that. 


John Trumbell was a famous American painter.  He was very known for his paintings of the American Revolutionary War.  Above is one of John Trumbell's most famous painting and a painting that is widely known.  This painting is called George Washington before the Battle of Trenton.  This painting was done in 1791 and created in Philadelphia.  The painting "depicts Wahington in his full military uniform, a blue coat over gold waistcoat and pants. He holds a spyglass in his right hand and a sword in his left gloved hand. Behind him is Blueskin, his light-colored horse, restrained by a groom." (General George Washington at Trenton).  If you were to look at other paintings of John Trumbell, you would also find scenes of war which is a huge theme within classicism.  I find this piece interesting because of the story behind it.  The piece above shows the agreed layout that George Washington and John Trumbell brainstormed but in the end, the painting was redid because the painting was rejected by the city.

Gilbert Stuart was also a famous painter from Rhode Island Colony who is very known for his portraits.  Gilbert Stuart is known for a portrait also of George Washington but it is an unfinished painting.  This piece is known as the Athenaeum Portrait and was created in 1795.  This was also done in Philadelphia.  I find this painting interesting because of the lack of story.  When you first see this with no research behind you, you wonder why it was never finished and how something unfinished got so famous.

John Singleton Copley was an Anglo-American painter who was known not only for his portraits but for his scenes of war.  Above is one of his famous pieces he made from 1782 to 1783 called The Death of Mayor Peirson.  He created this painting in Tate Britain.  "This picture celebrates the British defense of Jersey against French invasion in 1781 and also pays tribute to a young Major, Francis Peirson, who lost his life in the process. Originally a part of France, the island of Jersey had been in the possession of the English since 1066." (Tate).  I like this painting because it sets a scenes and brings you to the events that happened at that time.

As you can see, all three of the painting above have something in common.  They all portray elements and characteristics of what classicism and Revolution and Art are.  Those elements and characteristics are topics such as war, leadership, and government.  The first and second portray definitely bring out the themes of leadership as, at the time of the portraits, he was both leading a war and leading a country.  The third painting represents the themes of war and government which also connects with a story about leadership.

Here is a quick summary of the painting George Washington before the Battle of Trenton:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvv0gqHepKo


Citation

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/copley-the-death-of-major-peirson-6-january-1781-n00733

Tate. “'The Death of Major Peirson, 6 January 1781', John Singleton Copley, 1783.” Tate, 1 Jan. 1783, www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/copley-the-death-of-major-peirson-6-january-1781-n00733.

https://joyofmuseums.com/artists-index/john-trumbull/general-george-washington-at-trenton/

“‘General George Washington at Trenton’ by John Trumbull.” Joy of Museums Virtual Tours, 1 Nov. 2020, joyofmuseums.com/artists-index/john-trumbull/general-george-washington-at-trenton/.

Comments

  1. Jessica AJune 28, 2021 at 7:19 PM

    Hello Tiare,
    I liked that you wrote about the theme in the Classical era that some called "The Enlightenment" that depicts revolution, politics, war and leadership. This week I chose to focus on the more romantic style, Rococo style art of the Classical era. I feel that during my research for this assignment I was drawn to whimsy, pastel, curvy, feminine works of art. Even though I'm not drawn to the same style of art that you posted in your blog I appreciate the history behind the artwork and I learned something new while reading your blog this week.

    ReplyDelete
  2. jecarrollJune 29, 2021 at 2:08 AM

    I found that Gilbert Stuart's unfinished portrait of Washington is what was used as the basis for the dollar bill, luckily he had at least finished his face! His portrait of Washington is the most common picture shown of him, I've seen it dozens of times in history books and yet I never realized it wasn't complete until now.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cainan OsswaldJuly 1, 2021 at 6:30 PM

    I find the last presented piece to be the most interesting. It's setting almost makes it appear as though it takes place on a stage. There are women and children in one spot, ceremoniously dressed troops in another, and common rabble in the background. They all have a distinct fashion about them and maintain their segregated groups even during the chaos being depicted.

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