Name: Exploring the Neoclassical Art Period
Brand: Superprof
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Chapters

01. Defining Neoclassicalism
02. Unique Characteristics of Neoclassical Art
03. Famous Art Pieces of the Neoclassical Period
04. Acclaimed Neoclassical Artists
05. Learning More About Neoclassical Art with a Tutor

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." -Edgar Degas

Art has the power to move us and make us feel different emotions. By carefully observing a drawing or painting, we can experience sadness, joy, excitement, or melancholy. The best artists do not create for themselves but instead for the people who will view their art. Throughout time, there has always been art for humans to marvel at and observe. However, each period boasts different types of artists and the works of art have unique characteristics. So, without further ado, in today's article, we shall talk about neoclassical art and the famed artists and paintings from that era of time. Also, we'll take a look at how curious art lovers living in the UK may take art classes with tutors who specialise in Neoclassicism. Let's get learning!

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Defining Neoclassicalism

the style of painting — Some paintings from the neoclassical era are more accessible to identify than others. (Source: Unsplash)

As is the case with most artistic periods of the past, Neoclassicism has its origins deep-rooted in Europe and is known as a Western cultural movement. However, the first observations of Neoclassicism are based in Rome, Italy. Neoclassicism drew inspiration from the culture of classical antiquity. The Neoclassical artistic movement coincided with the Age of Englightenment. Also, it states that Neoclassicism is based on art from areas such as Greece and Rome. The "father" of the Neoclassical art period is Johann Joachim Winckelmann because of his writings and beliefs. The theories and recordings of Winckelmann shaped the artists of the Neoclassical era. For pieces of art to be considered "Neoclassical", they must meet the following requirements:

Greco-Roman,
Balance of compositions,
Proportions.

The Neoclassical period came after the Rococo era. While it was most common during the late 18th century and early 19th century, Neoclassicism has revived in the 20th and 21st centuries in countries such as France and Russia.

Unique Characteristics of Neoclassical Art

architecture and paintings — It's worth mentioning that paintings are not the only art pieces observed from the neoclassical period. The architecture of buildings is always neoclassical. (Source: Unsplash)

Now that we've defined Neoclassicism, it's worth mentioning that some unique aspects of neoclassical art make it different from other art periods and can be quickly identified. Such as? The following is a list of the most striking features of neoclassical art:

Art pieces must be free of emotion and feeling,
Art has to be the symbol of perfection,
Art has distinctive features of humans,
There is a proper balance and perfection within the piece of art.

Although most commonly observed in paintings and sculptures, Neoclassicism was a style involved in different mediums such as architecture, literature, music, fashion, and furniture.

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Famous Art Pieces of the Neoclassical Period

As is the case with all art periods throughout history, the neoclassical era boasts famous pieces of art that were carefully preserved and can now be observed for generations to come. The reasons why a neoclassical piece of art is celebrated and viewed as "famous" may be for reasons such as how it was created (brush strokes, colours used, etc.), the artist who created it, the fact that it survived despite many obstacles or the emotions it stirs up within its viewers. Without further ado, the following is a list of the most famous art pieces from the neoclassical period:

The Death of Marat: beautifully painted by Jacques-Louis David, the Death of Marat is viewed by many as the most famous painting of the Neoclassical period and the entire French Revolution. Death of Marat features Jean-Paul Marat, a leader of the French Revolution, assassinated. This painting was completed in 1793 and is displayed at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium.
Portrait of Madame Recamier: another gorgeous painting completed by Jacques-Louis David, the Portrait of Madame Recamier is a perfect depiction of the elegance of the upper class during the Neoclassical period in Europe. The subject of the art piece, Juliette Recamier, was a Parisian socialite sitting on a "Directoire" style sofa that was super famous in the early 1800s.
Napoleon I on His Imperial Throne: created by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in 1806, the painting of Napoleon I on His Imperial Throne has been studied and observed by many art critics worldwide for years. The painting depicts Napoleon I in his coronation costume. He is viewed as regal and authoritative as the Emperor of France in the picture.

It's important to state that although we mentioned the previously mentioned works of art, the art pieces may differ depending on who created the list. Nonetheless, the three art pieces that we have highlighted are extremely meaningful in the world of art, and they give a new student of Neoclassicism a chance to imagine what that period was all about. In the following subheading, we'll take a look at some of the most acclaimed and celebrated neoclassical artists.

Acclaimed Neoclassical Artists

For there to be beautiful works of art, there need to be many artists who have dedicated their lives to painting pictures or sculpting objects. While there are many artists from a single period in history, it's worth stating that not all reach soaring heights and fame in their lifetime.

We can't all be Pablo Picasso or Rembrandt!

Some artists, painters and sculptors, are more dedicated to their craft and boast more visible talent, which makes them more noteworthy. The following are some of the most famous artists from the neoclassical period, in no particular order:

Jacques-Louis David: born in 1748 in the country of France, David was a French painter that is viewed as a pioneer of the Neoclassical era. Jacques-Louis David's works were very to the point and without the over the top details of the Rococo period. David's paintings can be observed at museums across Europe. Other than working as a painter, Jacques-Louis David was highly active in politics.
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres: another French Neoclassical painter, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, was born in 1780 and was known for using more classical elements in his paintings rather than the Romantic characteristics that were readily observed in the early years of the 19th century. Dominique Ingres' portraits are highly acclaimed for their techniques.
Angelica Kauffman: probably the most popular female Neoclassical artist, Angelica Kauffman was born in Switzerland in 1741 and was lauded as a talented history painter in her time. Kauffman was very versatile because she painted landscapes, decoration paintings, and portraits. Angelica Kauffman lived in various parts of Europe and carefully honed her skills before moving to Great Britain to establish the Royal Academy in 1768.
Antonio Canova: the only sculptor on today's list, Antonio Canova hailed from Italy and was born in 1757. He is widely recognised as the most significant sculptor of the Neoclassical period. He included Baroque and classical characteristics in all of his pieces of art. Canova travelled through Europe and spent a lot of his time in both France and England.

If you want to learn even more exciting information about the previously mentioned artists that used Neoclassical elements, we highly recommend reading the following subheading and subsequently hiring an instructor.

Learning More About Neoclassical Art with a Tutor

taking courses — Private or group art classes with a tutor are a great way to learn about different art periods. (Source: Unsplash)

Whether you want to learn sushi making, geography, hip-hop dancing, or neoclassical art, a tutor is available for the subject in question. However, while private tuition may be a good idea, most individuals do not know where to find personal tutors that teach either in-person or online. So, where can neoclassical arts tutors be found in the United Kingdom? Look no further than Superprof. With more than 16 million instructors worldwide teaching students about 1000+ topics of interest, Superprof has become a pillar in the e-learning industry. Even though neoclassical art is a very niche topic, according to our website, there are still four neoclassical art instructors in the United Kingdom situated in Reading and London for in-person lessons and virtually for students who are located in other villages and cities across the UK. By choosing Superprof for supplementary education courses, neoclassical art pupils are guaranteed the following:

Personalised Approach: by hiring a private educator, you are ensured to receive personalised information at the pace that best suits you. The informative tips and tricks from neoclassical instructors make learning more efficient and manageable.
Affordable Tuition: while it was previously thought that private tutoring was only reserved for the rich, we're happy to state that that isn't the case anymore. Depending on your budget, you can easily find art instructors on Superprof that will suit your needs.
Fantastic Support: since Superprof has a brilliant tutor and student support team, both parties are kept safe, and any potential problems are dealt with very quickly.
Variety of Tutors: the sheer number of private tutors available on Superprof allows students to "shop around" for instructors before choosing. We recommend checking the profiles of the neoclassical art tutors to see their qualifications and teaching methods.

To make using Superprof even more convincing, it's worth highlighting that, with most tutors, the first lesson is always 100% free of charge! In conclusion, we hope that our carefully written article about the neoclassical art period has inspired you to consider learning more about this fascinating era from history.