Neoclassicism: Definition and Overview
Neoclassicism, the movement in European art, literature, and culture of the late 18th and early 19th centuries that was a reaction to the excesses of the Baroque and Rococo periods of the same time, emphasizing the importance of naturalism, simplicity, and clarity, without necessarily sacrificing the Baroque and Rococo’s classical charm.
In the Arts and Architecture, Neoclassicism was focused on looking to the Greco-Roman past for inspiration, and the movement was heavily influenced by the discoveries of Classical sculpture and architecture that had been unearthed since the beginning of the 18th century. Neoclassicism Artists sought to reclaim the artistic techniques, style, and subjects of the past and make them new again in their work.
In music, Neoclassicism was expressed through the work of composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn, whose works celebrated grandeur, yet also expressed the Classical ideals of balance, clarity, and simplicity.
Top Famous Neoclassicism Artists
Neoclassicism is one of the most influential and inspiring movements of the 18th and 19th centuries, and the artists who embraced it often utilized the principles of the movement to broaden the boundaries of their work. These top famous Neoclassicism Artists were instrumental in refining and expanding the range of Neoclassical works, and continue to be celebrated and discussed in the art world today.
Angelica Kauffman
Angelica Kauffman was one of the most influential Neoclassicists of the 18th century and one of the few female painters to achieve fame during her lifetime. She was respected for her expertise in portraiture and classical subject matter, and her paintings championed moral ideas, idealized beauty, and humanistic values. Examples of her work include The artist Painting the Portrait of Emma Lavigne, Angelica and Medora, and Cleopatra with the Asp.
Jacques-Louis David
Jacques-Louis David was considered the leader of the modern Neoclassicism movement, and he was a hugely influential figure during the French Revolution. His works often featured scenes from Greco-Roman mythology, placed in an atmosphere of tragedy and drama. Examples of his work include The Sabine Women and The Coronation of Napoleon.
Giambattista Pittoni
Giambattista Pittoni was one of the greatest Baroque painters in Venice and instrumental in spreading the ideals of Neoclassic art. He created artwork that not only showcased the beauty of Greco-Roman values, but also allowed for emotional expression to be present in his works. Examples of his work include The Virgin Adoring the Infant Jesus, Madonna with the Saints Mark and Bartholomew, and The Temptation of St. Anthony.
Antoine-Jean Gros
Antoine-Jean Gros blended Neoclassicism with an emotional realism that resonated with the French people of the Revolutionary era. He revolutionized the world of large-scale history painting through his artwork, and was particularly skilled in depicting powerful moments of humanment’s history. Examples of his work include The Battle of Eylau, Bonaparte Visiting the Plague Victims of Jaffa, and Napoleon Visiting the Pesthouse of Jaffa.
Joseph-Marie Vien
Joseph-Marie Vien was one of the most important Neoclassicists of the 18th century and a leading Academic artist. He was largely influenced by the artist Nicolas Poussin, and produced many classical works that drew from the school of French Neo-Poussinism. Examples of his work include The Family of Darius Before Alexander, Abduction of Proserpina, and Fury of Achilles.
Vincenzo Camuccini
Vincenzo Camuccini was an Italian Neoclassic painting highly respected in his time and to this day. His work was meticulous and balanced, melding the Academic ideals with a realism that conveyed the drama and tragedy of history. Examples of his work include The Death of Caesar and Marriage of the Virgin.
Anne-Louis Girodet de Roucy-Trioson
Anne-Louis Girodet de Roucy-Trioson was a major figure in French Neoclassicism and the first painter to bring together both classical mythology and Enlightenment ideals in his artwork. He was well known for his portraits, where he often depicted the ideal forms of Ancient Greece and Rome. Examples of his work include Portrait of Henri Beyle (Stendhal), Pygmalion and Galatea, and Death of Antony.
Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein
Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein was one of the most acclaimed German Neoclassicists of the 18th and 19th centuries, known for his depictions of classical and mythical scenes and his portraits of prominent figures. Examples of his work include Self-Portrait, Goethe in the Roman Campagna, and Lysippe.
Angelika Kauffmann and Anton Raphael Mengs
Kauffmann and Mengs were two of the most prolific and acclaimed Neoclassicists, who together brought the neoclassicism movement to its highest level of grandeur and sophisticated sophistication. Examples of their work include Raphael Mechanicus, Madonna and Child with Angels, and The Judgment of Paris.
Neoclassicism was an influential period in the history of art and culture, producing many works of art that are still celebrated and studied today. These top famous Neoclassicism Artists—Angelica Kauffman, Jacques-Louis David, Giambattista Pittoni, Antoine-Jean Gros, Joseph-Marie Vien, Vincenzo Camuccini, Anne-Louis Girodet de Roucy-Trioson, and Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein—revolutionized the movement with their paintings, depicting powerful moments of history in new and innovative ways. Together, these artists are credited with advancing and popularizing the Neoclassicism ideals of realism, balance, and simplicity amongst their works.
