Analysis of Neoclassical and Romantic Art - Essay Example

Professor NameInstitution, course numberDateNeoclassical and Romantic Art Each art work reveals the spirit of a certain epoch. This paper is dedicated to Neoclassical and Romantic Art. The aim of this work is to compare the pictures of Benjamin West and Francisco Goya, revealing the peculiarities of their styles. Benjamin West, “Portrait of Colonel Guy Johnson”, 1738Francisco Goya, “Majas on a balcony”, 1805-1812 The picture of Benjamin West belongs to a Neoclassical Period.

American painting of the XVIII century was strongly influenced by the British Art. Many artists were not familiar with European painting until they took a trip to Europe. Benjamin West was the first American master who went to the Old World. He settled in London, where he became one of the most significant British painters. He mostly worked with historical paintings and portraits. "Portrait of Colonel Guy Johnson" represents the British commissioner of Indian Affairs in the American colony. Next to him is represented a figure with the "peace pipe" in his hand, contrast to the Englishman, holding a gun.

In the background we can see a large waterfall, Niagara. In the picture, the figure of the colonel is highlighted, while the aborigine is hidden in the shadow. In this way, the painter contrasts illuminated mind to the civilization located in the darkness of ignorance culture. In general both pictures represent the spirit of “antiquity”. “"Visions of Antiquity" broadens our understanding of neoclassicism.” (Pagel, D., 1993). The picture of Francisco Goya is definitely a representation of romantic Art.

“In Romantic art, nature—with its uncontrollable power, unpredictability, and potential for cataclysmic extremes—offered an alternative to the ordered world of Enlightenment thought.” (Galitz, K. C., 2000). Comparing two pictures, we can see that they are performed in the same color pattern. The authors mostly use dark background and light items of closing in order to highlight the personalities. In terms of shape, both pictures are presented in two dimensional areas, separating the images of the characters from the surrounding world by the invisible boundaries.

Talking about space, the authors used the method of overlap in order to make people on the pictures closer to the viewer. Taking into consideration the art principles, it is necessary to state that the elements of graphic design are expressed in a united and harmonious way. The balance is revealed through the proportional placement of the main elements. The dominance is created by means of the contrasting figures on the first place and the elements behind. Concluding this article, it is necessary to mention that Neoclassic and Romantic period are very similar to the methods of their expression it Art, but differ mostly in genre representation.

Works CitedPagel, G. ART REVIEW: A Progressive Definition of Neoclassicism in Visions: LACMAs wide-ranging show emphasizes a style that merely depicts what ancient Greece and Rome might have been like, 1993. Retrieved from: http://articles.latimes.com/1993-07-24/entertainment/ca-16304_1_ancient-greece-and-romeGalitz, K. C. Romanticism, 2000. Retrieved from: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/roma/hd_roma.htmMcKay, K. The basics of Art: the Romantic Period, 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.artofmanliness.

com/2011/03/03/the-basics-of-art-the-romantic-period/Benjamin West, “Portrait of Colonel Guy Johnson”. Retrieved from: http://www.wga.hu/html_m/w/west/portrait.htmlFrancisco Goya, “Majas on a balcony”. Retrieved from: http://www.wikiart.org/en/francisco-goya/majas-on-a-balcony