The Art Romanticism

     Romanticism was an intellectual trend expressed in all arts in the western world in the late 18the century and the first half of the 19^th; literature and music were just as involved as the visual arts. I was not so much a style as a set of attitudes toward art and life.  Romantic artists believed above all in self expression – the artist’s duty was to be sincere, spontaneous and original. This outlook stands in contrast to Neoclassicism, in which great importance was placed on respect for the art of the past. Romanticism was to some extent a reaction against Neoclassicism, but the two movements are not incompatible; sometimes a love of the ancient world was tinged with Romantic nostalgia for a lost golden age; this has been called “Romantic Classicism.”

     Romanticism flourished most vigorously in Britain, France and Germany, but it affected most of Europe. Outstanding artists of the time included Turner in Britain, Delacroix in France, Friedrich in Germany and Goya in Spain. Typical themes were wild or mysterious landscapes and dramatic scenes from literature (Shakespeare was a great favorite of many Romantic artists). There was often a strong interest in dreams and nightmares, in the horrific and the macabre and in extremes of feeling sand behavior.

     Sculpture and architecture were also suited to this kind of inspiration, but an aspect of Romanticism- love of the medieval world comes out in Gothic Revival architecture. Imitation of exotic architectural style, such as Egyptian or Indian, was also a part of Romanticism.