Romanticism in Arts

Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in

the late 18th century Western Europe. Of it's major themes - revolution,

individualism, nature, innocence/experience, nature was a recurrent theme

that was stressed with great importance. Stressing the importance of

"nature" in art and language, and music and poetry, was evident in a variety

of works. As we follow the theme of nature by examining its impact on a

variety of art forms, we will see how the individual imagination was viewed

as a critical authority which permitted freedom within classical notions on

art, music, and poetry.

Many examples of the importance of nature's theme in the Romantic

Period of music exist. One of the most compelling examples is in the area of

opera. In opera, a new Romantic atmosphere combining supernatural terror and

folklore was evolving as Carl Weber composed, "Der Freischutz." Weber's

works had a great influence on perhaps one of the most influential German

composers in all of opera, Richard Wagner. Wagner used nature in a creative

and dramatic way. Wagner's, "Der Ring des Nibelungen", often referred to as

the Ring cycle, is a set of four operas based on German and Scandinavian

mythology rich in the themes of nature, involving gods, heroes, mythical

creatures, mountains, magic rings, and gold. The opera, spanning 16 hours in

length, has been called the most abitious artistic works ever made.

Romanticism in literature has left many wonderful examples for us to

read. One British poet, in particular, who frequently used the theme of

nature in his works, is William Wordsworth. Wordsworth's personality and

poetry were deeply influenced by his love of nature, especially by the

sights and scenes of the Lake Country, where he spent most of his adult

life. Much of this love of nature is evident in his work written with Samuel

Taylor Coleridge, "Lyrical Ballads." It is in this work of art that we are

introduced to Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey" and where many believe

Romanticism was introduced to England.

There are many great examples of how nature made it's way onto the

canvas of some of the greatest artists of all time during the Romantic

Period. One such example is the way in which artists such as Turner and

Constable used landscape to examine themes of natural wold and sense of

place. John Constable's beautiful use of nature's landscape and scenery are