Neoclassicism is a cultural movement drawing from the art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome, coinciding with the 18th century Enlightenment. Influential artists include Jacques-Louis David, known for historical paintings like 'The Death of Marat' and 'Napoleon Crossing the Alps', and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, recognized for his portraits and mythological themes. The movement also featured sculptors like Antonio Canova, famous for his marble works, and Bertel Thorvaldsen, noted for mythological characters.

1.  The word neoclassic comes from the Greek
word NEOS meaning NEW and the Latin word
CLASSICUS which is similar in meaning to the
English phrase FIRST CLASS.
 Neo-classicism is the name given to the
western movements in the decorative and
visual arts. Also, it applies to literature, theater,
music, and architecture that draw inspiration
from the classical art and culture of Ancient
Greece and Ancient Rome.

2.  It coincided with the 18th century
Age of Reason also known as Age
of Enlightenment. The art style
was brought about by the renewed
interest for Greek and Roman
Classics.
 Neo-Classical art pieces such as
paintings, sculpture, and
architecture generally portrayed
Roman history which elevated the
Roman heroes.

3.  Rebirth of Roman History
 Formal composition
 The use of diagonals show the peak of
emotion/moment (versus a regular
moment)
 Local color
 Overall lighting
 Classic geo-structure

4.  JACQUES-LOUIS
DAVID (1748-1825)
France
 Influential French
painter in the
Neoclassical style,
and considered to
be the pre-eminent
painter of the era.
 His subjects are
more on history.

5.  THE DEATH OF
MARAT
 David’s masterpiece
shows the portrayal
of a revolutionary
martyr. This is a
painting of the
murdered French
revolutionary leader
Jean-Paul Marat.

6.  NAPOLEON
CROSSING THE
ALPS
 The painting that
showed a strongly
idealized view of
the real crossing
that Napoleon and
his army made
across the Alps
through the Great
St. Bernard Pass in
May 1800.

7.  OATH OF HORATII
 It was a large
painting that depicts
a scene from the
Roman legend about
the dispute between
Rome and Alba
Longa. The three
brothers, all of whom
appear willing to
sacrifice their lives
for the good of
Rome, are shown
saluting their father
who holds their
swords out for them.

8.  JEAN-AUGUSTE-
DOMINIQUE INGRES
(1780-1867) France
 Ingres was a pupil of Jacques-
Louis David.
 He was influenced by Italian
Renaissance painters like
Raphael, Nicolas Pousin,
Botticelli, and his mentor,
Jacques-Louis David
 His paintings were usually
nudes, portraits, and
mythological themes.
 He was regarded as one of the
great exemplars of academic art
and one of the finest Old
Masters of his era.

9.  PORTRAIT OF
NAPOLEON ON THE
IMPERIAL THRONE
 The painting depicts
Napoleon in his decadent
coronation costume,
seated on his golden-
encrusted throne, hand
resting upon smooth ivory
balls. During his reign, the
painting was owned by the
Corps Legislatif which was
a part of the French
Legislature. The painting
was believed to be
commissioned by
Napoleon as King of Italy.

10.  THE
APOTHEOSIS
OF HOMER
 The painting was a
state-commission by
Charles X to have
him remembered in
the building works of
the Louvre. The
painting depicts an
image of Homer,
receiving to brilliant
men of Rome,
Greece and
contemporary times.

11.  ANTONIO CANOVA (1752-
1822) Italy
Canova was a prolific Italian
sculptor who became
famous for his marble
sculptures that delicately
rendered nude flesh. He
opened the idea for
portraying discrete sexual
pleasures by using pure
contours with his
mythological
compositions.

12.  PSYCHE
AWAKENED
BY CUPID’S
KISS
A marble
sculpture
portraying the
relationship of
Psyche and
Cupid.

13. WASHINGTON
This is a marble
sculpture of
George
Washington
currently
displayed at
North Carolina
Museum of
History.

14. BERTEL
THORVALDSEN
(1789-1838)
Denmark
Thorvaldsen was
the first
internationally
acclaimed
Danish artist. He
executed
sculptures of
mythological
characters.

15. CHRIST
A marble sculpture
image of
resurrected
Christ currently
located at the
Thorvaldsen
Museum.

16. LION OF
LUCERNE
A sculpture of a
dying lion in
Lucerne,
Switzerland that
commemorates
the Swiss Guards
who were
massacred in
1792 during the
French
Revolution.

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