Classicism Art Movement, The History of Classical Art!
During the Italian Renaissance in the early 16th century, classicism arose. It began in Rome, then through Europe's creative and cultural hub, and spread throughout the continent in the 16th century.
At the end of the 16th century, and notably throughout the 17th century in Europe, classicism established itself as an art creative period.
History of Classicism
Classicism is a cultural, aesthetic, and artistic movement that flourished in France, and more broadly throughout Europe, from 1660 to 1725. It is characterized by a set of ideas and criteria that draw an ideal embodied in the "honest man" and construct an aesthetic based on the pursuit of perfection, with honesty as the essential motif.
Monarchical centralization, which began in 1630 under the leadership of Richelieu and then Mazarin, affected the cultural domain in addition to the political one.
Scholars and writers grouped in various academies then invented an aesthetic basis of classicism principles that would lead modern criticism to assimilate classicism and respect for the rules that should allow the production of works of taste inspired by the models of art, often in a reductive way.
Balance, measure, and verisimilitude are hallmarks of antique art used in classicism art.
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The Characteristics of Classicism
This artistic movement aspires to bring order, rationality, and peace to the world. Precision, rigor, and tranquillity are the principles.
The artist must accomplish the perfection of design, purity, and ideal beauty, as in Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man. The creations' composition must be meticulously considered.
The use of symmetry, geometry, and straight lines, as well as the calculation of proportions, add to the impression of balance and harmony.
The Definition and Origin of the Term "Classicism"
The concept of "classicism" is difficult to define. To grasp the meaning of a term, it can be helpful to go back to its semantic foundation. Classicus is a Latin phrase that refers to today's society's wealthiest class.
The word was employed to designate, on the one hand, the authors of Antiquity worthy of imitation, and, on the other hand, the seventeenth-century French authors who established an art of measuring and reason in defending the reverence and imitation of the Ancients.
Stendhal coined the term "classicism" in 1817 to describe works that, as opposed to romantic works, take classical art as their model.
The term "classicism" refers to a period of grace in French literature when the French spirit was most brilliantly portrayed. This period would be in the second half of the seventeenth century, or, to be more exact, the years 1660-1680. As a result, all those who championed a less regulated literature, beginning with the romantics, were pitted against classicism.
The term "classicism" as applied to a period of national literature is unique to France. Other European works of literature reserve this term for the first classical authors, that is, Greek antiquity authors who served as a model for the rest of Europe.
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French classicism, on the other hand, is not entirely characterized by historical criteria. It also satisfies formal requirements. Classical compositions are inspired by a desire to reimagine and copy earlier works.
They value logic and strive for a balance that is based on naturalness and harmony. As a result, proponents of classicism condemned many works from the 17th century as failing to fulfill classical criteria.
Sculpture in The Classical Style
Classical sculpture refers to a form and style of a sculpture style similar to that produced in ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and civilizations under Hellenistic and Roman dominion or influence.
It also encompasses more current sculptures created in a classical style or those influenced by antiquity.
Suprematism Art Movement & Characteristics
Sculpture in the classical style was also popular during the Renaissance. The phrase encompasses standing statues as well as relief sculptures, such as the famed Elgin Marbles of the Parthenon, and bas-reliefs.
Sculptural works focus on the human form, whereas reliefs are typically employed to create decorative settings.
The Architecture of the Classical Period
Classical architecture in France is inspired by antiquity. It was created to exaggerate Louis XIV's splendor, which later spread throughout Europe. This edifice becomes a reflection of the King of France's supremacy throughout the world.
Its origins can also be traced back to Renaissance characteristics. Classical architecture is defined by the desire for symmetrical compositions and a methodical analysis of proportions inherited from Antiquity.
Characteristics of Baroque Art
The noble and simple lines, as well as the balance and sobriety of the decorating, are pursued, with the goal of the details matching the entire. It embodies the concept of reason and order.
The influence of this architecture can be traced back to the castles of Versailles (Louis Le Vau, François II d'Orbay, Jules Hardouin-Mansart), the Grand Trianon (Jules Hardouin-Mansart), or Vaux-le-Vicomte (Louis Le Vau).
