1.2 Major Artistic Movements and Influences

American art before 1865 was shaped by European styles and the quest for a unique national identity. Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical movements influenced American artists, while the Enlightenment sparked new themes and subjects in their work.

The American Revolution and growing nationalism fueled the development of a distinct artistic voice. The Hudson River School and genre painting celebrated American landscapes and everyday life, helping to define the nation's cultural character.

Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical Art

Characteristics and Contrasts

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• Baroque art (originated in Europe, late 16th century) characterized by dramatic lighting, intense emotions, and dynamic compositions
  • American artists influenced by Baroque style include John Singleton Copley and Benjamin West
• Rococo art (emerged in France, early 18th century) known for its lighthearted, ornate, and elegant style
  • Rococo influences evident in works of American painters like Charles Willson Peale and John Wollaston
• Neoclassical art (gained popularity, mid-18th century) drew inspiration from classical art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome
  • American artists Gilbert Stuart and John Trumbull incorporated Neoclassical elements in their paintings, emphasizing order, symmetry, and moral virtue
• Baroque art characterized by dramatic and emotive qualities, while Rococo art is more playful and decorative
• Neoclassical art emphasizes rationality, order, and moral ideals in contrast to Baroque and Rococo styles

Reflection of Changing Climate

• Transition from Baroque to Rococo to Neoclassical styles in American art reflects changing social, political, and intellectual climate of 18th and early 19th centuries
  • Shift from dramatic and emotive Baroque to lighthearted and decorative Rococo
  • Rise of Neoclassicism coincides with Enlightenment ideals of reason, order, and morality
  • Changing artistic styles mirror societal transformations and evolving cultural values

Enlightenment's Impact on American Art

Influence on Subject Matter and Themes

• Enlightenment (intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and progress) had significant impact on American art in 18th and early 19th centuries
• Enlightenment ideas, such as importance of education and pursuit of knowledge, influenced subject matter of American art
  • Artists increasingly depicted scientific instruments, books, and other symbols of learning
• Enlightenment's emphasis on individualism and self-improvement encouraged development of portraiture in American art
  • Exemplified by works of John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart
• Enlightenment thinkers' interest in classical antiquity contributed to rise of Neoclassicism in American art
  • Artists drew inspiration from art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome

Expression of Enlightenment Ideals

• Enlightenment's ideals of liberty, equality, and democracy found expression in American art
  • Particularly in works of artists who supported American Revolution and new republic, such as John Trumbull and Charles Willson Peale
• Artists used their works to promote Enlightenment values and celebrate the new nation's independence and democratic principles
  • Trumbull's historical paintings (Declaration of Independence) and Peale's portraits of revolutionary leaders (George Washington) exemplify this trend
• Enlightenment's influence on American art helped shape the nation's cultural identity and artistic heritage

American Artistic Identity

Colonial Period and Great Awakening

• Early colonial period American art heavily influenced by European styles and traditions
  • Many artists trained in Europe or working in European manner
• Great Awakening (religious revival movement, 1730s and 1740s) contributed to development of distinct American identity
  • Influenced subject matter of American art, with increased focus on religious themes and moral instruction
  • Paintings and engravings depicting religious scenes and figures became more common

Impact of American Revolution and Nationalism

• American Revolution and establishment of United States as independent nation fostered sense of national pride and desire for unique American cultural identity
  • Reflected in art of late 18th and early 19th centuries
• Artists sought to create works that celebrated American values, landscapes, and everyday life
  • Paintings depicting patriotic themes (Washington Crossing the Delaware) and portraits of national heroes became popular
• Development of distinctly American artistic style and subject matter helped define the nation's cultural identity

Hudson River School and Genre Painting

• Hudson River School (emerged mid-19th century) played significant role in development of distinctly American artistic style
  • Artists such as Thomas Cole and Frederic Edwin Church celebrated beauty and grandeur of American landscape
  • Paintings of vast wilderness, dramatic vistas, and untamed nature became iconic representations of American art
• Rise of genre painting in early 19th century contributed to creation of uniquely American artistic identity
  • Exemplified by works of artists like William Sidney Mount and George Caleb Bingham
  • Depicted everyday life and scenes specific to American experience, such as rural gatherings and frontier life
  • Genre paintings offered glimpses into the lives of ordinary Americans and helped define the nation's cultural character

European Influence on American Art

Study Abroad and Grand Tour

• Many American artists in 18th and 19th centuries traveled to Europe to study and train
  • Brought back styles and techniques learned abroad
• Grand Tour (traditional trip undertaken by wealthy Americans to Europe) exposed American artists to masterpieces of European art and architecture
  • Influenced their own artistic practices and inspired them to incorporate European elements into their works
  • Artists such as Benjamin West and John Singleton Copley spent extended periods in Europe, absorbing the continent's artistic traditions

Neoclassicism and Romanticism

• Neoclassical style (originated in Europe) had significant impact on American art in late 18th and early 19th centuries
  • Artists such as John Singleton Copley and Benjamin West incorporated Neoclassical elements into their work
  • Emphasis on classical forms, proportions, and subject matter derived from ancient Greek and Roman art
• Romantic movement (emphasized emotion, individualism, and the sublime) influenced American artists such as Washington Allston and Thomas Cole
  • Sought to capture beauty and grandeur of American landscape through dramatic compositions and atmospheric effects
  • Romantic ideals of nature's power and the individual's connection to the environment resonated with American artists

Düsseldorf and Barbizon Schools

• Düsseldorf School (group of German artists known for detailed, realistic landscapes) had notable influence on American landscape painters in mid-19th century
  • Artists such as Albert Bierstadt and Worthington Whittredge studied at Düsseldorf Academy and incorporated the school's precise, detailed style into their depictions of American landscapes
  • Düsseldorf influence contributed to the development of a more refined and technically skilled approach to landscape painting in America
• Barbizon School (group of French landscape painters who emphasized naturalism and plein-air painting) influenced American artists such as George Inness and William Morris Hunt
  • Adapted Barbizon techniques to their depictions of American landscape, capturing the effects of light and atmosphere in a more naturalistic manner
  • Barbizon influence helped to shift American landscape painting towards a more intimate and personal approach, focusing on the beauty of everyday scenes and the artist's emotional response to nature