Islands In Classicism

I s l a n d s i I s l a n d s i n n

W e s t e r n W e s t e r n H i s t o r y H i s t o r y C l a s s i c i s m I n t h e A

r t s1 4 2 5 – 2 0 0 0

ReasoningReasoning

Cyclical appearance in history

Sometimes as a response to a decidedly non-classical moment

Often corresponds with times ofPolitical/Social StabilityEras of Intellectual GrowthEstablishment of power (on many levels: national to

individual)

RenaissanceRenaissance

c.1425-1525

Primarily in Florence and surrounds,

later Rome

Revisiting and building upon Antiquity

Donatello, David

Michelangelo, David

Images of a growing power: Florentine Republic

Brunelleschi, Pazzi Chapel, Florence

Humanism as a design factor

French BaroqueFrench BaroqueEarly 17th century

reigns of Louis XIII – Louis XV

Aristocratic and serious

Perrault, Le Vau, Le Bron, East Façade of the Louvre

Inner court of the Louvre (a prior style)

Painting in the Grand Manner: Historical and virtuous, optical clarity, order and logic, drawing

Poussin, Burial of Phocion

Poussin, Et in Arcardia Ego

NeoclassicNeoclassic18th century

the Enlightenment

Connected to two major revolutions

Discovery of Pompeii influential

European and North American (initial style of the new country)

David, Oath of the Horatii

The BackstoryThe BackstoryThe Horatii were a set of male triplets from Rome. During a war between Rome and Alba Longa (7th century B.C.E.), it was agreed that settlement of the war would depend on the outcome of a battle between the Horatii and the Curiatii. The Curiatii were a set of male triplets who were from Alba Longa and of the same age as the Horatii.

In the battle, the three Curiatii were wounded, but two of the Horatii were killed. The last of the Horatii turned to flee. The Curiatii chased him, but because they were wounded, they became spread out from one another, which allowed Horatius to slay them one by one.

When the victorious Horatius returned carrying the spoils of victory, his sister cried out in grief because she realized the Curiatius to whom she had been engaged was dead. Then Horatius killed his sister, proclaiming, "So perish any Roman woman who mourns the enemy." For the murder, he was condemned to death but was saved when he appealed to the people. The legend might have been used as the reason why the condemned in Rome were allowed to appeal to the populace. -from Wikipedia

David, Death of Marat

Propaganda: institutional disinformation towards an

ideology/goal

Latrobe, Baltimore Cathedral and original

design for National Capital Monticello, Jefferson

Designs for a new democratic empire …

Th. Greenough,

George Washington

… and a new Caesar

Modernism: The International StyleModernism: The International Style

c.1920 – present

Co-exists with numerous trends and styles

Flexible application of ideals

At times a paradox: rejection of traditional modes combined with Classical traits

Mies van der Rohe

The Barcelona Pavilion

(1929)

“less is more”

“God is in the details”

The Seagram Building

NYC (1958)

a machine for living:

Le Corbusier

Villa Savoye

Poissey, France (1929)

Richard Meier

Getty Center

Los Angeles (1997)