Romanticism

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Romanticism  - 1789-1848

“If poetry comes not as naturally as the leaves  to a tree, it had better not come at all.” (Keats)

Neoclassical painting

= Age of Enlightenment (or: Age of Reason)

The Oath of the Horatii (1785)

Louvre, Paris.

By Jacques-Louis David.

Romantic painting

The Hay Wain

(John Constable, 1821)

Romantic music

• Famous early Romantic composers: Beethoven , Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Bellini, and Berlioz. 
  
• Late 19th century: dramatic expansion in  size of orchestra and in  range/diversity instruments 
  
• Late 19th century music is characterized by nationalistic fervor , (musicians Dvořák, Sibelius, Grieg,  Saint-Saëns, Fauré). 
  

       French revolution start of Romantic era -> revolution = political independence = music for              your own country

Neoclassical architecture

The White House(1792-1800)

Romantic architecture

Brighton, Royal Pavilion

(John Nash, 1815-1822)

Neoclassical poetry (Enlightenment)

= didactic (teaches people)

Essay on man - Alexander Pope

Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; 

The proper study of Mankind is Man. 

Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state, 

A being darkly wise, and rudely great: 

Romantic poetry

= personal feeling (art for the sake of art, expression of emotions)

I wandered lonely as a cloud - William Wordsworth

For oft, when on my couch I lie 

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.  

 Start of Literary period- Romanticism

1789: French  Revolution > Ideal of new world without tyranny,  characterized by individual freedom.

Willam Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political Justice (influenced Wordsworth, Shelly a.o.)

Plea for English Democratice Republic

(1791-1792)

Romantic themes in art/literature

• liberty 
  
• nature 
  
• the exotic 
  
• the supernatural 
  
• creative process / imagination 
  

Characteristics Romanticism

1. individual, personal
   
2. feeling / Imagination
   
3. common life
   
4. spontaneity
   
5. ordinary language
   
6. pleasure
   
7. nature as background and inspiration
   

How does a Romantic poet write?

• Poet’s own feelings important (personal, subjective, individual)
•  Poem is composed spontaneously cf. Wordsworth: poetry is “the spontaneous,overflow of powerful feelings, taking its origin in emotion recollected in tranquility.” 
• Keywords: inspiration, imagination, originality 
  

Romanticism: Friendship instead of social status 

• The most important form of loyalty was friendship (you choose friends based on same character)
• Choice of friends/partners became important vs  Social status obtained through friends/partners

Freedom of choice was also freedom to reject a partner. Not everyone could handle rejection

William Blake (1757 – 1827) 

• Poet, painter, illustrator during the Romantic period

• Famous for his expressiveness and creativity, 
• Philosophical and mystical undercurrents in his work
  

•  Hostile to the Church of England  (to almost all forms of organised religion) but reverent of the Bible
  
• Influenced by the ideals & ambitions of the French and American Revolutions
  
• His poetry rebels against the abuse of class power 
  
• Famous work:  Songs of Innocence and  of Experience (1794)
  
• Imagination is the most important element of human existence
  
• He experienced visions of beautiful religious themes and imagery
•  Believed in racial and sexual equality. Several poems and paintings express universal humanity:                                                         "As all men are alike (tho' infinitely various)".