6.1 Influence of European Neoclassicism and Romanticism
3 min read•july 30, 2024
European and deeply influenced American art in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These movements shaped how artists portrayed the young nation's ideals, landscapes, and identity through painting, sculpture, and architecture.
American artists adapted European styles to reflect their unique experiences and surroundings. They created works that celebrated American democracy, frontier landscapes, and national heroes while incorporating classical forms and Romantic sensibilities.
Neoclassicism and Romanticism in American Art
Key Characteristics of European Neoclassicism
Top images from around the web for Key Characteristics of European Neoclassicism
Allegorical figure of Prudence from Paiazzo Giugni | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Emerged in the mid-18th century as a revival of classical forms and subjects
Emphasized order, clarity, and in reaction against ornate Baroque and Rococo styles
Featured heroic figures, moral allegories, and classical mythology to educate and uplift viewers
Compositions were balanced and harmonious, prioritizing line and form over color
Key Characteristics of European Romanticism
Developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, prioritizing , imagination, and
Sought to evoke strong feelings and a sense of the through art
Depicted as powerful and sometimes threatening, celebrating its beauty and mystery
Explored themes of nationalism, exoticism, and the supernatural with dynamic and expressive compositions
Significantly influenced American art as artists traveled to Europe to study and absorb the latest trends
Influences on American Art Styles
Political and Social Factors
and the establishment of the United States created a desire for a distinct American cultural identity
Neoclassicism, with its associations with democratic ideals of ancient Greece and Rome, was seen as an appropriate style for the young republic
philosophy, emphasizing reason, order, and progress, aligned with Neoclassical principles and influenced American intellectual and artistic climate in the late 18th and early 19th centuries
Cultural and Religious Factors
, a religious revival movement in the early 19th century, encouraged an emotional and individualistic approach to spirituality that resonated with Romantic themes and aesthetics
Exploration and settlement of the American frontier and the idea of fueled nationalism and fascination with the natural beauty and wilderness of the American landscape, which were central to Romantic art
Increasing industrialization and urbanization in the 19th century led to a nostalgia for nature and a desire to escape modern life pressures, which Romantic art aimed to satisfy
American vs European Art Movements
Neoclassicism
American Neoclassical art shared characteristics with its European counterpart, such as an emphasis on classical forms, heroic figures, and moral allegories
Incorporated uniquely American subjects and themes (founding fathers, ideals of the American Revolution)
In portraiture, American Neoclassical artists (, ) depicted subjects more realistically and less idealized than European counterparts, reflecting American democratic values
American Neoclassical architecture (, ) adapted European forms to suit American tastes and needs, incorporating local materials and regional variations
Romanticism
American Romantic art, like European Romanticism, celebrated nature, emotion, and individualism
Focused on distinctive features of the American landscape (Hudson River Valley, Catskill Mountains, American West) rather than European countryside
American Romantic artists (, ) developed the Hudson River School style, combining Romantic sensibility with meticulous detail and reverence for American wilderness, having no direct European equivalent