The Classical Era: Morals
The Classical Era was a time of fierce movements that transformed the outcome of the future and changed the moral beliefs of those living through it. In the 18th century, revolutions, politics, and sovereign nations took over everyone's minds. These events altered the historical timeline, and the art from this period experienced dramatic changes in meaning as the events led to spirations in morality in the 18th century.
Jean-Honoré Fragonard was a highly respected Rococo painter who painted the above piece titled The Pursuit. The Pursuit, one of four paintings of a series titled The Progress of Love, was commissioned by Madame du Barry (Louis XV’s mistress) between 1771 and 1773. Madame Barry wanted this series painted to decorate her private salon. Fragonard depicts a romance scene as a young boy leaning towards a girl, giving her a rose. There seem to be two chaperones who are holding her back from falling. In the background is a sculpture of two cupids. The figures and the statue have the same movement, indicating the maiden holding their desire back. I enjoy this painting’s depiction of romance and the use of colors. Within the background, cool colors make it appear dull. The figures are highlighted by warm colors, which produce the tangible feeling of sunlight in the garden. This Rococo-styled piece follows the characteristics of pastel coloring and romance. The beautiful pastels create a scene of romance that depicts no moral dilemma in the painting.
Another piece from the Rococo period, The Love Letter by Francois Boucher, was created in 1750 and is an excellent example of the Rococo style and how morals weren’t incorporated. The painting was commissioned by Madame de Pompadour (King XV's mistress) from 1745 to 1751. The Love Letter was commissioned for her chateau at Bellevue. The colors are very pastel and light. The painting displays no morals that are distinctive enough to focus on. The painting shows two girls enjoying their day while the boy is watching. While it is objectifying to look at, there is no indication if a morale message is being shown.
In Jean-Antoine Watteau's, The Scale of Love, the elements of color, in which he uses hues of pinks, browns, and reds, offer a sense of ease and a focal point on the relationship of the subjects in the piece. Utilizing fête galante, Watteau dresses the subjects in elegant clothing, as they appear surrounded by nature, focused solely on each other. The subtle brushstrokes allow the audience to peer at the relationship quickly, knowing it offers an escape from the real-life conflicts around them. I couldn't find the back story on this piece.
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Sources:
Rand, Richard. “The Love Letter.” Art Object Page, National Gallery of Art, https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.46027.html.
Hello Allyse, I like the pieces you chose to discuss in regard to 1700s morality represented through the arts. The three Rococo paintings all share similarities in both style and subject matter. The light, pastel, and elegant clothing that the people wear makes them stand apart from their dark backgrounds. To me, this gives off a sense of superiority from the figures as if they are shining beacons of luxury, refinement, and class in a dim and uninspired world. Each one of the figures in these works are engaged in varying levels of romantic acts. In The Love Letter by Francois Boucher, the two women seem to be engaged in the most innocent iteration of romance, reading a love letter from who we can assume to be a prospective suitor. Jean-Antoine Watteau's, The Scale of Love features a far more intimate scene of a man and a woman reading, playing music, a generally relaxing together. Although you can see the forms of others, they are far enough in the background that the pair in the foreground are left feeling unsupervised. This idea lends to feelings of frivolity and a lack of moral compass all too often found with members of high society. Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s The Pursuit is the work from this collection that best exemplifies this lack of a moral compass and sensibility that was running rampant among the upper class. Although the young lady in the painting is accompanied by two chaperones, is clearly a woman of standing, and is in a very public and luxurious garden setting, she requires both her attendants to hold her back from her overwhelming need to join the young man and accept his gift. This absence of composure, morals, and class that the vast majority of high society encompassed only fluid the growing resentment that those of the lower classes felt.
ReplyDeleteThese works celebrating frivolousness, lax morals, and luxury directly led to the Classical era’s creation of history paintings such as Oath of the Horatii by jacques-louis David, and John Singleton Copley’s, Watson and the Shark that were meant to exhibit great acts of brave, heroic, moral behavior and inspire such acts in others. These types of paintings relied less on innuendo and bright colors and more on lines of action and intense emotion. Personally, I find the works of the Rococo very appealing as I quite enjoy the painstakingly rendered luxurious pastel fabrics against the dark backgrounds. Additionally, I am of the opinion that not all artwork needs to hold some great deeper meaning to be of value and sometimes just looking pretty is enough. While I do enjoy the lighthearted nature of many Rococo works, I am glad that the Neoclassical style emerged from it and its more intense subject matters and messages.
I agree with you Abby. I did my post on morality in art and I agree with your statement that in the rococo period it focused more on the artsy, pastel and not necessary morality and in the neoclassical era its focused changed and morality became important.
ReplyDeleteI am quite a fan of the Rococo period of art with its pastel colors and intricate work. I agree that the moral message is very strong in the piece by Fragonard. For the other two pieces, I'm having a little bit of trouble finding a strong moral message. These pieces have a similar color scheme, giving a very cohesive feel to this exhibit. I think that this is wonderful.
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