What was that I heard? “What is Neoclassicism?”

Well, JUST IN CASE you were curious…

Neoclassicism is the classical revival in European art, architecture, and interior design that lasted from the mid-eighteenth to the early nineteenth century. This movement saw the rebirth of ancient Rome and Greece and the Renaissance as counteraction to the pretentious Baroque and Rococo art that came after the movement. The style became particularly popular in France and England; however it eventually spread throughout all of Europe, promoting values such as nationalism and bravery. Neoclassicism emphasized austerity and the resurgence of tradition. Classical objects such as Columns, pediments, friezes, and other ornamental schemes were included in neoclassical art. Inspiration came from the work of Plutarch and Homer and illustrations from Greek literature such as Illiad and Odyssey done by John Flaxmann. Artists of this movement put special effort into the costumes, settings, and intricate details of classical lifestyle with as much accuracy as possible. A lot of the subject matter was derivative of classical times and mythology. The movement emphasized line quality over color, light, and atmosphere. Contrasting with the Baroque and the Rococo, Neo-classical paintings are devoid of pastel colors and haziness; instead, they have sharp colors with Chiaroscuro. In the case of Neo-classicism in France, a prime example is Jacques-Louis David whose paintings often use Greek elements to extol the French Revolution’s virtues (state before family).