Meta-Impressionism
Romanticism
An important art-movement in the 19th century
Romanticism, introduction:
Romanticism can be seen as a broad art-movement comprising several disciplines of art (iR3). Romanticism is also present in literature (Goethe, 1749-1832; Lord Byron, 1788-1824; Alexandre Dumas, 1802-70; Victor Hugo, 1802-85) and music (Berlioz, 1803-69; Chopin, 1810-49; Schuhmann, 1810-56; Liszt, 1811-86).
As a painting style it was not only present in France, but also in Germany (1800-1830; namely Casper David Friedrich, 1774-1840), England (William Turner) and Spain (Goya, 1746-1828). The Romantic painters were inspired by Titian (1488ca-1576), Rubens (1577-1640), Velázquez (1599-1660) (R3,p18/9;R172,p60-2). In France it was an important art-movement from 1815-1850. Important French Romantic artists were Théodore Géricault (1791-1824), Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863), Horace Vernet (1789-1863), Eugène Isabey (1803-86), Ary Scheffer (1795-1858).
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Romanticism, themes:
In Romanticism the emphasize lies on dramatic and tragic events, like the inescapable fate. Cruelties are rendered in a direct and penetrating way. Heavy sentiments are rendered, like enclosure, anxiety and despair. Also poetic moods are rendered, sometimes tending to sentimentality. There is a close connection between men and nature. Nature is seen as a mirror of the soul. But also the human helplessness against the forces of nature is an important theme. Passion, the subjective world of feelings and imagination, were important sources of inspiration. The Romantic painters also rendered historical themes, oriental scenes and scenes from literature. Other themes are dreams, fantasy, visions, loneliness, decay, death and also a heroic idealism. One of the most important tenets was the exaltation of Nature; as an experience for its own sake, as a source of wisdom and as an artistic inspiration.
Sources: R293,p319-328+400+410;R172,p56-60;R3,p19;R13,p174/5;R177,p18;R61,p13.
Romanticism, painting style:
The romantic painter used colour as an expression of moods (R13,p175). In general it is said that the emphasize is on colour and not on line (R172,p61;R3,p18). Delacroix is praised for his use of radiant colours and his use of complementary contrasts (R172,p61). But when we look more closely, the use of colour by the Neo-Classicists is in general more bright. The use of colour by the romantic painters is more subdued, using a lot of browns, greys and blacks. The emphasize is more on the use of ‘clair-obscure’, the use of contrasts between lighter and darker parts, thus emphasizing the drama (R13,p260; iR3). The Romantic painters often used loose brushstroke, thus emphasizing the dramatic movement. They often rendered a turbulent composition. The contours are partially blurred. (R293,p402)
Romanticism vs Neo-Classicism:
Rauch writes: ‘Discussions that attempted to define the boundary between Classicism and Romanticism always came to nothing.’ He describes Classicism as a ‘stylistic language’ and Romanticism as a ‘mindset’. (R293,p330). I am no specialist to say much about this discussion. In general I find that we mustn’t put artists to strictly within one frame. I see that Romantic artists, like Delacroix, also render religious and mythological themes. But, when we look more closely, the drama is always very prominent, rendered with rough brushstrokes. We can see so in his rendering of ‘Roger delivering Angélique’. When we compare this with Ingres, we see that he centralizes the nude Angélique, rendered with smooth brushstrokes (1819, Louvre). I see that many Neo-Classicist artists, like Cabanel, also render a lot of drama in their paintings↓. So does David, whose work often is a bit theatrical and who also uses clair-obscure (R293,p371). We see this drama also in Bouguereau his Prix de Rome entry, but hardly in his later works. But still, the Neo-Classicists emphisize line, detail and the human body.
Orientalism is a theme used by many, also by a Romantic artist, like Delacroix and a Neo-Classicist artist like Gérôme.
Sources:
My main sources are Rauch (2000=R293,p318-412); Krausse (R172,p60-62); Schilderkunst van A tot Z (1987=R13,p174/5+260+624/5); Walther (2013=R3); Roberts (1965=R61); the Salon database (iR1); Wikipedia (iR3); the-athenaeum (iR2); WikiMedia (iR6). See the link for other general References (=Rx), to the internet references (=iRx) and Musea (=M). See links for practical hints and abbreviations and for the subscription of the paintings.
Additional references:
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Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism: Romanticism. Last modified 2025/11/19. https://www.impressionism.nl/romanticism/ ”
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