The Romantic Vision

Source: Cannistraro and Merriman

Neo-classicism Revival of art: ancient

Greece/ancient Rome History of ancient

Rome was key subject Stoic philosophy of

duty and lack of self-interest

David’s “The Death of Socrates”

Neo-classicism

Discovery of Herculaneum and Pompeii– Houses and

villas discovered in 1711

– Vivid picture of ancient Rome

Use of weapons, costumes, poses of Pompeian frescoes, call to patriotic action

David’s Marat

Romanticism….why? Remember, 18th

century….all about human reason

Romanticism is about emotion

Concerns of Romanticism Romantic artists

were concerned about themselves– Emotions– Reactions to their

world– Own individuality

Characteristics of Romanticism Rejected 18th century

predecessors emphasis on reason

Explored power of dreams and the subconscious

New vision of nature

Characteristics of Romanticism

Natural universe was mysterious world of its own

Believed in “remoteness” of time or place

Inspired by ancient British Druids and medieval knights

Political views of Romanticism

Democratic Lord Byron and

Delacroix supported liberalism

HOWEVER Conservative

because they distrusted human reason

“Spirit of the Age”

English Romantic Poets

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Showed the suffering of their souls

I am the eye which the UniverseBeholds itself and knows itself divine;All harmony of instrument or verse,All prophecy, all medicine is mine,All light of art or nature;_to my sonVictory and praise in its own right belong

Percy Bysshe Shelley Married Mary

Wollstonecraft (named after her mother)

Son of aristocrat Expelled from Oxford

for atheist beliefs Died mysteriously in

1822 Encouraged his wife,

Mary Shelley, to write fiction– Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Dr. Frankenstein

– Creates monster in his lab

– Complex work of nature and science

– Concern that science is growing out of control

– Suggests maternal love is possibly key to happiness