Classical And Classicism: Classic, Classical, And Classicism

RIWT Task 1

Classic, classical, and classicism are all words that describe the historical period, quality of a literature, music or artistic style associated with the appealing achievements of Greco-Roman civilization. Classical art is based on the aesthetic and philosophical principles fixed by Greco-Roman civilization.

Classic art refers to a high regard for classic antiquity. Disco bolus Sir Kenneth Clark said “classicism (or the classical era) portrays widely accepted ideal forms of art in various ways” (Clark, 1956, p.146). In the classical period there was a revolution in Greek sculptures (related with the introduction of democracy).

Classic is simply any ancient imitation or use of the principles of ancient Greek and Roman classical

Renaissance art came to be due to the combining of two different types of art by the humanists. If the humanists had to describe Gothic art (artistic style during the Medieval ages, after the classical era but before the Renaissance time period), and Classical art in one word, they would define Gothic art as barbaric and Classical as pure. Therefore, the humanists fused together the classical and Christian traditions resulting in religious painting.

Inspired by humanism, Renaissance art expressed an individual; expressing an individual meaning to serve the aristocratic pursuit of fame, power, beauty, and virtue. Renaissance art “revived” the classical era in a better and enhanced version of new art. As mentioned earlier, the Renaissance literally means rebirth, and when historians say “rebirth” they are referring to the rebirth of the Classical era. And although the Classical era was brief, it was very graceful; and this graceful era was discontinued when Europe fell into the Dark Ages (resulting in medieval art). In the Medieval era due to the failed structure of the continent everything became very dark and gloomy; painters expressed what is now called a “gothic” mood which evidently led to Gothic Art. Gothic art was serious and presented little emotion, used few colors, stiff figures, and

This brings us to the reason why Renaissance art continued the classical artistic style. It continued classicism and not the medieval style because medieval art was dull, dark, and grotesque. (ex. Gargoyles, un- proportional resulting in disfigured faces on figures, etc.). There was little emotion present in the paintings, causing the mood of an individual to change. Figures appeared stiff, with little sense of movement and were mostly serious. This gothic form of art is in fact a contributor as to why the Middle Ages were referred to as the “Dark Ages”. Therefore, Renaissance thinkers brought back the classical era also known as the “Age of Enlightment”. Although the graceful classical style discontinued for a while, Renaissance art brought back the era’s characteristics in a much more delighting and entertaining