Rococo, Neoclassical and Romantic Art

• Week 1: The birth of the rococo
  With the end of total warfare that marked the 16th century, the Ancien Régime monarchies of Europe were temporarily stabilized. Rebuilding on the ruins of baroque Europe, kings and aristocrats patronized the rococo—a redirection of the baroque style towards the realm of playful pleasure. We will look especially at the rococo style in France.
• Week 2: The rococo in Italy, Central and Eastern Europe
  Venice, Bavaria, Germany, Poland, Saint Petersburg. As the rococo traveled eastward it found new forms of expression and one new medium—porcelain. Its tone also shifted from the playful to the fantastic.
• Week 3: Rococo and neoclassic
  Beginning as an Enlightenment reaction to the style patronized by absolute monarchies, the neoclassic style, associated with republican ideals (and compatible with constitutional monarchy), took root in Portugal, Britain, the New World and revolutionary circles on the continent.
• Week 4: The neoclassic style (continued)
  In the New World, the neoclassic style became the semi-official style of the republics established in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In Europe, at the same time, Britain and France, for different reasons, also chose the neoclassic style to express their national aspirations. 
• Week 5: The rise of romanticism
  We will look at the birth of romanticism in painting by following the career of Goya, who began as a rococo artist, became a neoclassic artist, and ended his long career as the father of European romanticism. Other artists will be included as well.
• Week 6: Romanticism ascendant
  Turner, Constable, Gericault, Delacroix, Friedrich and others established the respectability of romanticism, while Ingres and the French academy upheld the ideals of neoclassicism. In architecture, an eclectic synthesis of styles created a merger of romantic and neoclassic impulses as the great cities of Europe attained metropolitan dimensions.

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Describe the differences and connections between the baroque, rococo, neoclassic and romantic styles in art
• Give examples of painters and representative works in each style, and across styles
• Describe how the rococo developed from the baroque, and evolved further
• Explain how these styles of art were influenced by different regions and political movements

• Lectures
• Participation in discussions
• Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
• Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)

No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.