France was on the brink of its first revolution in 1789.
late 1700s
Beginner's guide
Neo-Classicism means "new classicism." The artists of this period looked back to ancient Greek and Roman art.
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Louis Carrogis de Carmontelle, Figures Walking in a Parkland
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When played through an optical device, Carmontelle's 12-1/2 foot long drawing animates to tell a story of 18th-century leisure.
Jacques-Louis David, The Death of Socrates
What is worth dying for? David draws comparisons between ancient Roman philosopher Socrates and the French Revolution
Classic, classical, and classicism explained
What's the difference between classic art, classical art, and classicism?
Carlos Julião, watercolor manuscript
Hindu religion, Brazilian customs, and Andean artworks as seen through the eyes of a European colonizer.
Portraits of Francisca Ramírez de Laredo and Antonio de Ulloa
These portraits of a couple show us what the sitters want us to see about them, and conceal the less glamorous details of their lives
Jeremias Schul, Portrait of a Lady Holding an Orange Blossom
Who she is and how this painting came to be painted has yet to be unraveled, but a close reading of the dress provides clues to narrow the window for future research.
Printmaking in Europe, c. 1400−1800
The portability and affordability of prints contributed to the exchange of information and ideas between cultures.
Marie-Guillemine Benoist, Portrait of Madeleine
This portrait of an unnamed woman speaks volumes about slavery, politics, and gender in revolutionary France.
David, The Emperor Napoleon in His Study in the Tuileries
As the low candles and late hour suggest, Napoleon is short on time. David captures the twilight of his reign.
David, Study for The Lictors Bringing Brutus the Bodies of his Sons
Rendering the grief of wives and daughters, David depicts the wrenching domestic aftermath of personal sacrifice.
Antonio Canova, Penitent Magdalene
The novelist Stendhal called this sculpture “the greatest work of modern times.” Canova disagreed.
Jacques-Germain Soufflot, The Panthéon (Church of Ste-Geneviève), Paris
Uniting ancient Greek purity with Gothic daring, this church marked a new direction for French architecture.
