Rococo, Neoclassicism, and Romanticism, Part 2

Question 1: Discuss Romantic Realism. Then identify Caspar David Friedrich.

Answer 1: In the Romantic Realism of the early nineteenth century, artists sought greater realism in their depictions of nature. However, they also viewed the various states of nature (cold, rainy, sunny, dark, ominous, etc.) as symbolic of different emotions. Consequently, art became more realistic than it had been during the Romantic period while still retaining its subjective expressiveness. Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840) was a German painter of Romantic Realism. His most famous works include The Cross on the Mountain and The Polar Sea, which laces tragic symbolism with the real-life account of a shipwreck during William Parry’s artic exploration. A religious work that was controversial for perceived pantheistic overtones, The Cross on the Mountain is known for its heavy symbolism, gloominess, and mystery.

There are lots of good resources about Neoclassicism that you can find available.

Question 2: Identify John Constable. Include a discussion of his The Hay Wain.

Answer 2: John Constable (1776–1837) was an exponent of Romantic Realism in painting and was known for his focus on rural subject matter, such as ponds, streams, pastures, rural houses, horses, woods, and clouds. He demonstrated a remarkable understanding of meteorology and he always marked his paintings with the time and conditions under which they were created. Most notably, Constable developed his own painting technique, which was popularized by his famous work, The Hay Wain (1821). This technique, which ameliorated the lighting effects, brilliance, and color of the painting, involved separating brush strokes and juxtaposing complementary colors. Having observed The Hay Wain at the Salon of 1824, Delacroix began mimicking its brush stroke. Later, Monet and Renoir would also employ Constable’s technique.

Question 3: Identify Joseph Turner. Include a discussion of his Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbor’s Mouth and The Slave Ship.

Answer 3: William Turner (1775–1851) is the most celebrated landscape and seascape artist in the history of English art. His works present nature as both a ferocious force and a symbol of human emotion. His style would influence the later generation of Impressionist artists. Ironically, Turner seldom created his compositions from direct observation of nature; instead, he painted from his impression derived from his memory of an experience. For instance, Turner once tied himself to a ship mast so he could experience a storm at sea, and then painted Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbor’s Mouth (1842) from the memory of that experience. Turner’s Slave Ship (1840) is his greatest composition. Created from reports that diseased slaves were simply tossed overboard from a slave ship, the work embodies all the qualities for which the artist’s work is known. Rather than depicting the natural appearance of the elements (water and sky), Turner uses them and the medium of paint to convey his impression of the gruesome event.

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