Neo-Classicism

Question 1

Where and when did this movement take place

Answer 1

France 1750-1850

Question 2

Why were the social structures in France in a critical state

Answer 2

• The state was nearly bankrupt

* Middle class was tired of being oppressed and wanted lower taxes and a vote

Question 3

When did the French Revolution start

Answer 3

During the extreme political and economic crisis in France

Question 4

What were the original goals of the French Revolution

Answer 4

• To create a constitutional monarchy

* Reform the financial and political structures of the nation

Question 5

What did the original goals change into

Answer 5

• A move to overthrow the king and establish a republic

Question 6

What happened in the course of the French Revolution

Answer 6

• The landholdings of the Roman Catholic Church and the feudal lords was sold to the bourgeoisie and the peasant

Question 7

When was a republic declared

Answer 7

In 1792

Question 8

When did the revolutionary movement culminate

Answer 8

In the Reign of Terror

Question 9

What happed in the Reign of Terror

Answer 9

Thousands of aristocrats died

Question 10

Who took power next

Answer 10

The middle class

Question 11

Who took over leading the revolution from the peasants

Answer 11

Napoleon Bonaparte, a successful military leader

Question 12

What was unleashed under the military command of Napoleon

Answer 12

A colossal military force

Question 13

When did the Revolution end

Answer 13

After the defeat at Waterloo

Question 14

What did the French Revolution spark

Answer 14

• European monarchs were exposed as vulnerable
• Revolutions began to erupt
• Ideas of freedom and equality spread throughout Europe

Question 15

What was Neo-Classicism linked to

Answer 15

Political events

Question 16

What style did it seek to replace

Answer 16

The playful lines of the Rococo art with a style that was serious and logical in tone and moralising in character.

Question 17

When did the new French government adopt Neo-Classicism as its official style

Answer 17

When a republic was established in France

Question 18

Why was it modified

Answer 18

To fit Napoleon’s propaganda needs

Question 19

What was Neo-Classicism and what was it fired by

Answer 19

A renewed interest in classic civilisation fired by the excavation in Italy of ruins of the Roman cities

Question 20

What Roman cities were excavated

Answer 20

Pompeii and Herculaneum

Question 21

What did Neo-Classical art aim to achieve

Answer 21

Noble simplicity and calm grandeur

Question 22

What did a historian urge artists to do

Answer 22

To study and imitate its timeless, ideal from

Question 23

How was the classical past incorrectly viewed

Answer 23

As a golden age with Republican Rome as a model of order justice and morality

Question 24

How was Neo-Classicism seen

Answer 24

As an art to educate people

Question 25

What was the subject matter

Answer 25

Only a few figures in calm, static poses mainly derived from classical sculptures.

Question 26

Composition

Answer 26

Balanced and ordered compositions were usually based on geometrical shakes like rectangles and triangles

Question 27

Shapes

Answer 27

Line and drawing were the most important characteristic or styles. Hard and precise outlines and clearly defined shapes were used. Forms were seen to be ‘carved’

Question 28

Application

Answer 28

Smooth application of paint with no visible brushstrokes

Question 29

Colour

Answer 29

Strong contrasts between colour and dark and light areas. There was a limited pallet, only dull red white and blue were used (they symbolises the French)

Question 30

Noe-Classicism

Answer 30

Serious, objective art, intellectual rather than emotional