Rollercoaster of Arts and Architecture
Before the 1800’s, Europe went through many trials of major events, both good and bad, that gave people new outlooks on the world and changed many of their lives. In particular, the way art was developed and appreciated changed dramatically in most part because of the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte. Soon enough art would become a way for people, (even those without high-level education) to express themselves. The new styles of architecture and visual arts that Napoleon introduced in France sparked new eras of art like Romanticism that he used to make himself popular; it caused Napoleon to be noticed, not just because of his military conquests, but also because of his artistic vision and innovation.
The rule of Napoleon Bonaparte was spectacular because of his elaborate and for a long time infallible military successes. Napoleon made art an important part of his legacy. Whenever he would defeat neighboring countries, he would often plunder the art and literature of the country and bring it back to France. Also, he made a big deal of using propaganda to increase his public image. The type of propaganda he would use would deal with the paintings he’d have made of him, the buildings he’d make to honor himself, and the things he’d have carved out of his image. Napoleon took his propaganda very seriously, and when he found Antoine-Jean Gros, an artist that he really liked, he hired him to become his battle painter. Gros was a French painter in 19th century of France who was influenced a lot by the Romanticism style. One of his works was “Napoleon on the Battlefield” in Eylau, when Napoleon battled against the Russians. In this painting, Gros showed the bloody match between the two sides, and thankfu...
... middle of paper ...
...the significance was that it is Bonaparte and his army making a journey through to the Alps. It involved colors, different brush strokes and oil on canvas. ("Napoleon Crossing the Alps." French Wikipedia).
In conclusion, art allowed people who may not have had good educational backgrounds a chance to let their voices be heard in society. More and more artists became famous during and soon after Napoleon’s rule and since then, new concepts were made that still take effect today. Napoleon may have been known for war and ruling as emperor in the 18th century but he gave artists a chance to express themselves with help from the era of Romanticism. The arts back then were more strict and uptight. Over the centuries artists took the old styles and remixed it with the new. Today, there are different forms of art and architecture such as modern, dark, light and many more
They used propaganda in their work to make their own country look better but subsequently they made other nations look inferior. They would hear about these lands and cultures without visiting them then create a painting of what they would think it would like. For one example of this propaganda use in paintings is Antoine-Jean Gros, he was employed by Napoleon to depict his visit to the east. Antoine never actually visited the east so his painting is merely out of imagination, but in the painting it depicts Napoleon visiting plagued prisoners during the Siege of Jaffa. Napoleon, in the painting, is shown touching an inmate who is gesturing in disbelief. The painting also shows the eastern people as poorly dressed and dirty while napoleon and his men are clean and dressed very militarian like. Antoine depicts the easterners as dirty to provide evidence of their backwardness and barbaric ideals which allows the audience to see the french as this great nation with power (Antione, Siege of Jaffa, The Louvre,1804). This painting can be interpreted as both propaganda and orientalist because it shows how mighty the french are but also shows the french as god-like compared to the
The dissemblance of the First French Empire occurred when Napoleon lost against Great Britain’s navy in the battle of Waterloo in the year of 1815. Napoleon then abdicated his empire, and exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died in the year of 1821. When Napoleon abdicated, his “first painter” Jacques-Louis David was exiled too for political reasons, and later died when leaving France. Jacques-Louis David had painted The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries to reflect on the historical period when Napoleon was at the height of his career, and to truly propagandize his image to the world, as the hero of France. The simple background, the allusions to classical Greek and Roman culture, and the historical context of the painting clearly is presented in the style of Neoclassicism, while fashioning Napoleon as a great military leader.
Napoleon and the Enlightenment The enlightenment was a time of great learning throughout Europe during the eighteenth century. Although the period is significant for scientific and other scholastic advancements, it is most important because it allowed for the opening of great minds—such as that of Napoleon Bonaparte. Shortly after this enlightenment made its way through Europe, revolution and civil war ripped through France between 1879 and 1899. The unrest of the time called for a strong ruler.
Napoleon was an outstanding military commander and enjoyed many successful campaigns. Napoleon maintained the Revolutionary syst...
Napoleon Bonaparte did establish a dictatorship within France during his reign as Emperor. He introduced reforms that seemed to contradict the ideals and goals of the Revolution. However, the changes that he did make were usually improvements of those ideals or laws put in place to achieve those ideals through means that appeared anti-revolutionary and they transformed France into a superpower.
The dawning of the nineteen century brought with it a change in the political and social climate, the world was ready to usher in a new era of artistic thought. This new awareness was called “Romanticism” and saw its height during the Industrial Revolution. At this time, the Romantic era centered on the ideas of emotion, fantasy and hope. The end of the French Revolution became an important force in propelling a new train of thought. For the first time people were now regarded as individuals, oppression was sympathized and the banner of equality was flying high.
He became famous with his painting Oath of the Horatii and he got commission for it from king Louis xvi. He portrays heroes of revolution like napoleon Bonaparte. He painted Napoleon crossing the alps as successor.
Near the end of the 18th century, Europe was engrossed in the Age of Enlightenment. Society was waging a war of intellectualism against tradition and faith, and spreading its ideals of logic and reason. However, the turn of the century would see to it that Romanticism, a new cultural revolution emphasizing the beauty of nature and emotion, would prevail. It was a period in which visual arts, music, and literature flourished. Romanticism had a considerable impact on science, philosophy, nationalism, art, and literature of the time, and continues to affect us today.
Napoleon was just a soldier during the French revolution. He gained support from the people and the army for his military success. The people looked up to him and hope that he can help to end the chaos brought on by revolution
If we look at the past, art has always been heavily influenced by the social and political reasons. Searching through history, we find that while social views of a certain period may no longer be relevant, the art and design of that time often are.
Of all the movements in European art, Romanticism has by far the most difficult origins to pinpoint due to the broadness of its beginnings, artistic expressions, and time frame. Inspired by “nature, an awareness of the past, a religious spirit, and an artistic ideal” (Barron’s 6), Romanticism is one of the most significant influences on European culture. By looking at modern paintings, we can see the influence Romanticism has had throughout the generations. With Romanticism, artists have been able to take painting to different levels. The paintings are so profound that they allow the viewer to learn, develop, and acknowledge new aspects of life. The beginning of the Romantic era marked the birth of creative activities and aesthetic behaviors. Romanticism allows an artist to be creative, original, and authentic. Romantics view the world as more prejudiced and less balanced than others, including Neo-Classicists. What sets Romanticism apart from Neo-Classicism is the standards for Romantic artists were based on their own responsiveness while Neo-Classical artists aimed on portraying the orthodox values.
With all the glory and the splendour that some countries may have experienced, never has history seen how only only one man, Napoleon, brought up his country, France, from its most tormented status, to the very pinnacle of its height in just a few years time. He was a military hero who won splendid land-based battles, which allowed him to dominate most of the European continent. He was a man with ambition, great self-control and calculation, a great strategist, a genius; whatever it was, he was simply the best. But, even though how great this person was, something about how he governed France still floats among people's minds. Did he abuse his power? Did Napoleon defeat the purpose of the ideals of the French Revolution? After all of his success in his military campaigns, did he gratify the people's needs regarding their ideals on the French Revolution? This is one of the many controversies that we have to deal with when studying Napoleon and the French Revolution. In this essay, I will discuss my opinion on whether or not was he a destroyer of the ideals of the French Revolution.
The French Revolution, indeed, changed the structure of economics and social sphere of the old regime, and also the ideology of that time. In the years that followed the Revolution, the always increasing senses of both freedom and individuality were evident, not only in French society, but also in art. As stated by Dowd, “leaders of the French Revolution consciously employed all forms of art to mobilize public sentiment in favor of the New France and French nationalism.” In between all the artistic areas, the art of painting had a special emphasis. After the Revolution, the French art academies and also schools were now less hierarchical and there was, now, more freedom of engaging into new themes, not being the apprentices so tied up to their masters footsteps, not being so forced to follow them.
Throughout the ages art has played a crucial role in life. Art is universal and because art is everywhere, we experience it on a daily basis. From the houses we live in (architecture) to the movies we see (theatre) to the books that we read (literature). Even in ancient culture art has played a crucial role. In prehistoric times cave dwellers drew on the wall of caves to record history. In biblical times paintings recorded the life and death of Christ. Throughout time art has recorded history. Most art is created for a specific reason or purpose, it has a way of expressing ideas and beliefs, and it can record the experiences of all people.
Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the famous figures in French history by the importance of his internal reforms. However, he remains primarily in global memory as one of the greatest military commanders in history. Indeed, Napoleon Bonaparte delivered more battles than Alexander the Great, Hannibal, or Caesar. His campaigns covered all Europe from Spain to Russia, without forgetting the East with Egypt and Syria. The French Emperor entered in the prestigious capitals of Europe, Milan, Vienna (twice), Berlin, Madrid and Moscow. Napoleon has greatly influenced the Western way of war, not only by the new organization of armies, but also by the optimization of different capabilities and the combination between leadership and creativity in the battlefields.