Humanities Assignment 3

ROMANTIC PERIOD 12 The Romantic period followed the Classical period. The period between 1760 and 1830 has been described as a time when the middle class began to win power from the aristocracy.

Liberalism and nationalism were two philosophical trends that had been inspired by the Enlightenment. Liberal thinkers advocated the rights of citizens. The nation- alists affi rmed the importance of national culture and independent statehood, and contributed to cultural distinctions between evolving nations. Classicism was appro- priated by Napoléon to promote his power and image (Parrott).

An American author, Henry David Thoreau, espoused transcendentalism. Thoreau believed in the natural goodness of humanity, and concluded that people are capable of governing themselves. He thought that the best form of government is no government at all (Parrott).

In 1804, Napoléon Bonaparte proclaimed himself emperor and expanded French authority in Europe. Napoléon had attended military school in France and was a general by the time he was twenty-four. Napoléon governed France as a mili- tary dictator. In 1801, Napoléon’s legal system codifi ed the idea of the secular state and gave the state supremacy over the Catholic Church. Napoléon declared that Roman Catholicism was the primary religion of France. He also granted religious freedom to Protestants and Jews. Napoléon was not progressive in his thinking about the role of women. He maintained that women should remain home and take care of children. Napoléon died in 1821 after being exiled for the second time (Parrott).

The art and architecture of Napoléon’s reign refl ect his manipulation of power. Napoléon’s building campaign adopted Roman architectural forms, such as the triumphal arch, that refl ected his imperial status. The painting of Napoléon by Jacques-Louis David was done in the tradition of imperial equestrian portraits. David was a Classical painter who Napoléon used to promote himself. Sometimes historians referred to that type of art as propaganda art (Parrott).

After the Napoleonic period, the restoration of a constitutional monarchy under Louis XVIII followed. A bid to restore absolutism by King Charles X restricted the rights of citizens. Unrest followed and workers in Paris revolted. By 1848, a revolution sparked by workers and middle-class liberals overthrew the Chamber of Deputies. Two years later, the nephew of emperor Napoléon was elected president. He was defeated in the Franco-Prussian War and the French Third Republic began (Parrott).

Romanticism was a style that refl ected ideals of freedom and began in Paris. The style spread to other areas of Europe including Spain, Britain, the German states, Russia, and North America. Romanticism fl ourished in music and literature until

166 Timelines and Chronology

the end of the nineteenth century. The themes used by the Romantic artists emphasized social justice, freedom, and a sense of national pride (Parrott).

In 1853 Richard Wagner published the librettos to Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring Cycle): Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Seigfried, and Die Gotterdamerung. The Ring Cycle is con- sidered one of the most ambitious musical projects ever undertaken by a single person. In 1877 Iliac Tchaikovsky finished Swan Lake and Johannes Brahms completed his First Sym- phony. The symphony expanded in size from the Classical symphony, however it maintained the four sections. The size of the percussion section increased. The piano became a solo instrument, and it also became a popular instrument to be used in concerto compositions.

In contrast to those of the Romantic period, the figures in paintings of the Classical period, such as Jacque-Louis David’s The Oath of the Horatii, seem somewhat detached. In Romantic paintings the figures are more emotional and the viewers are forced to respond. For example, Raft of the Medusa, by Romantic painter Theodore Gericault, features a dead man on a raft in the foreground and in the upper portion of the painting is a figure waving a flag as if to signal for help. The image emphasizes the subjects’ hope of rescue. However, if one looks closely one notices that a huge wave is coming toward the raft. Some think Gericault intended his work to be a social commentary. His message may have been that until the oppressed in society are taken care of, no one will be eman- cipated (Stokstad 992). This painting, which is considered one of the major Romantic paintings and one of Gericault’s best, reflects the characteristics of Romantic painting.

Classical Painting Detached Emotional restraint Subject matter many times about Greek and Roman themes

Romantic Painting Intimate and emotional Subjects show feelings and ideas about humanity and despair Subject matter about everyday or contemporary issues, horror, life against death,

and violence

After the early years of the French Revolution, King Charles IV of Spain reinstituted the Inquisition. The French Revolution, which had created many reforms, had filled many people with hope; among these was court painter Francesco de Goya. King Charles IV refused to allow French books to be imported into Spain. Goya produced his own com- mentary through a series of prints created between 1796 and 1798. They were etchings and aquatints and are known as Los Caprichos (The Caprices). Goya’s prints expressed the idea that if reason sleeps, then monsters will be produced. Another of Goya’s works that reflects the time period and may help define Romanticism is the painting Execution of the Third of May. It portrays the victim very prominently on the left side of the canvas. He stands out in his yellow and white attire and has his hand raised. On the right side of the canvas are the French soldiers who are lined up with their weapons raised and ready for action.

“In 1808 Napoléon conquered Spain and placed on its throne his brother Joseph Bonaparte. Many Spanish citizens including Goya welcomed the French at first because of the reforms they inaugurated, including a new, more liberal constitution. On May 2, 1808, however, a rumor spread in Madrid that the French planned to kill the royal family. The populace rose up, and a day of bold street fighting ensued, followed by mass arrests. Hundreds of Spanish people were herded into a convent, and a French firing squad exe- cuted these helpless prisoners in the predawn hours of May 3rd” (Stokstad 998).

Romantic Period 167

Characteristics of Classical and Romantic Music

Classical Music Romantic Music Piano came about Piano became a solo instrument Modern sonata form emerged Operas became extravagant with elaborate stage sets Orchestra developed four sections

(strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion) and featured four movements and certain forms (i.e., A B A form)

Orchestra increased in size and lacked formal structure. Not always four movements

Emotional restraint Emotionalism Subjectivity Nationalism, pride of country

Composers Composers Beethoven Brahms Haydn Chopin Mozart Liszt Mendelssohn Schubert Schumann Tchaikovsky Wagner

Accomplishments of the Art Forms of the Romantic Period

The Romantic Period drew upon the French Revolution’s rejection of aristocratic and social and political norms. (Source: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/ Romanticism)

The artistic topics expressed by poets, writers and musicians were about nationalism and pride for their country. Musicians used folk tunes as inspiration for composing composi- tions. Folk tunes were incorporated into motifs into symphonies. Some composers used melodies and added a piano accompaniment. (Franz Schubert would be an example)

During the Romantic Period, musical compositions became less formal than they had been during the Classical Period. For example, Classical symphonies usually had four movements but during the Romantic Period that rule was broken. The piano also be- came a solo instrument and composers such as Frederick Chopin played concerts with just the piano by itself.

Topics (subject matter) during the Romantic Period represented the way humans be- have such as inhumane behavior towards one another. (Inhumanity to man theme such as the painting by Francesco de Goya The Execution of the Third of May) Romantic Art differs from Classical Period art in that Romantic Period Art may represent more in- tense emotions such as strong forceful tense feelings of hate, anger, and even show in art or through sound, brutality and compassion. Classical art tends to be less in its intensity with more emotional restraint.