Classical Blog

Classical Era - Rococo and Neoclassical 

There were two different distinct painting styles during the Classical era.  The first was called the Rococo style which was characterized by using pastel colors, curving forms, and light subject matter.  The second was the Neoclassical style which emphasized classical themes and subject matter while ensuring the setting and clothing was accurately depicted. For these reasons, the Neoclassical style lent itself well to paintings depicting the American Revolution, the theme that I am writing about. 

• The era of the monarch was coming to an end.  The public opposed the irresponsible and amoral behaviors of the aristocracy.  Citizens wanted freedom and self-governance.  To gain the freedom the American Revolution began, and the French Revolution began shortly thereafter.  

• The Enlightenment, which was a European intellectual movement, emphasized reason and individualism rather than tradition.  Philosophers and writers focused on the capacity and ability of the human mind.  It was believed that the poorest man had the capacity to develop his intellect and character.  

• The excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum.  I had the amazing opportunity to tour Pompeii and was amazed at the many engineering feats that they accomplished that we still use today in some manner and the murals and tile worked that survived.  

Neoclassical Era and the American Revolution

Paintings depicting the American Revolution are strongly influenced by the Neoclassical style.  The paintings selected for this blog depict art that includes liberty, heroism, and democracy. Artists represented the ideals of the revolution in their works portraying historical figures as heroic leaders or symbolizing freedom through symbolic representations. Paintings depicting important historical events reflected the revolutionary spirit and virtues were important to Americans during this lifechanging time.

The three Neoclassical style paintings selected all depict important events in American history.  The Passage of the Delaware, The Capture of Major André, and Washington Crossing the Delaware.  The artists accurately capture the individuals and surroundings.  The paintings have clean lines, depict heroism, and reflect Enlightenment ideals.  

The Passage of the Delaware

Thomas Sully c. 1819

 

Thomas Sully was an English-born and American raised artist in the nineteenth century.  Sully studied art in England under the tutelage of Neoclassical artists Benjamin West and Sir Thomas Lawrence.   Sully’s work was influenced more by West than Lawrence.  Below is West’s The Death of General Wolfe.  When comparing the paintings you can see similarity in the arrangement of officers around the central figure of the painting.  

The Death of General Wolfe, Benjamin West c. 1770

It is believed that Sully painted The Passage of the Delaware at this studio in Philadelphia.  The painting was originally commissioned to be displayed in the North Carolina capitol building but the painting was too large so the contract with North Carolina was terminated.  The painting was eventually displayed in the Boston Museum until 1903 when it was given to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  

This painting is very dramatic.  The evening that George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River they were on a mission to launch a surprise attack on the Hessian mercenaries.  Washington and his troops had to cross the icy Delaware in the middle of the night.  There were limited supplies, and the troops lacked adequate clothing.   Also adding to the difficult crossing was a storm that evening.  Washington and the Continental Army were successful in their attack which boosted the troops’ morale and helped them gain support for their efforts to defeat the British.  Sully was able to capture the action that was occurring throughout the painting.  The use of light highlights George Washington as the central figure in the picture.  The surrounding landscape accurately shows the viewer the harsh weather and the difficulty they faced in making the crossing.  

This is a massive picture and would not fit in my home!  It is 12 feet tall by 17 feet wide.  It is a beautiful painting that absolutely needs to be displayed in a very large setting.  I feel like these large paintings need to be displayed in a setting of significance that everyone can enjoy.  

The Capture of Major André

Asher Brown Durand c. 1845

Asher Brown Durand was born and died in Maplewood, New Jersey.  He came from a large family of 11 children.  His father was a watchmaker and a silversmith.  Not only was Durand a painter, but he was also an engraver.  His engravings on bank notes were used as the portraits for America’s first postage stamps, the 1847 series. 

Durand shifted from engraving to oil painting in about 1830.  He is remembered for his detailed portrayals of trees, rocks and foliage.  His drawings were directly from nature where it was important to capture as much realism as possible, a Neoclassical element.

You may be asking yourself, “who is Major John André and what did he have to do with the American Revolution?”.  British Major John André was working with Benedict Arnold as the intermediary between the British and Arnold.  Benedict Arnold was attempting to surrender West Point to the British for the equivalent in today’s dollars would be more than $1 million.

In The Capture of Major André three militiamen, John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams discovered the treason and stopped Major André.  Major André had offered the militiamen his expensive watch and promised them money if they would let him go.  Although they were poor, they refused the offer and turned André over to the Continental Army.  Congress awarded each of the militiamen with a silver medal and a pension of $200 a year.  Highlighting the militiamen in this painting embodies the Enlightenment movement.  They are three regular people who use their intellect and character to do the right thing.

Of note, two other important artists during the Neoclassical era painted the story of Major André, Jacob Eichholtz and Thomas Sully.  Although Durand’s is the best-known depiction.  It is unknown where the painting was painted.  In 1845 the American-Art Union commissioned the painting asking him to improve an earlier version he had painted in 1834.  For years it was unknown where the painting was located.  It eventually surfaced in a private collection and was acquired by the Birmingham Museum of Art.

As with Neoclassical era paintings, the composition is very well balanced, and the realism of the painting is very distinct.  The use of color makes the painting seem more like a photograph.  The realism of the painting that depicts America history is very appealing to me.  But as with many pictures that depict history from the American Revolution, I believe these works of art belong in institutions where everyone can enjoy them.

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Emanuel Leutze c. 1851

Emanual Leutze was born in Germany in 1816 and was brought to America as a child where he lived in Philadelphia. He died in Washington, DC in 1868. He returned to Germany when he was 25 to attend the Royal Art Academy.  His most famous work is Washington Crossing the Delaware which is also recognized as one of the great paintings of the American Revolution.  He began the painting in 1849 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

This version of the crossing of the Delaware offers a different perspective from other Revolutionary war pictures.  As it relates to the Neoclassical era, Leutze emphasizes Enlightenment.  There are people from different classes, regions, and ethnic backgrounds working together under George Washington to reach a common goal.  So much of what we see in this painting applies to how we work today.  People from all backgrounds working together to reach a common goal.  The painting’s composition is very balanced and is very realistic.

This painting makes me proud to be an American!  The conditions in which the troops crossed the river are treacherous.  It’s incredible the sacrifice and struggles the soldiers faced in pursuit of freedom.  This painting captures these feelings as well as the leadership of George Washington.  This is a very large painting measuring 21 feet 3 inches tall by 12 feet 5 inches.  The figures in the painting are lift size.  It must be impressive to see it in person.  It’s currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  I hope to see it in person one of these days.

Works Cited

“Neoclassical Art.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 15 Feb. 2025, www.britannica.com/art/Neoclassicism

“Pompeii’s Influence on 18th Century Art.” Omeka RSS, omeka.wellesley.edu/piranesi-rome/exhibits/show/discovery-of-pompeii-and-hercu/pompeii-art-influence

“The Passage of the Delaware.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Dec. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passage_of_the_Delaware

“Postage Stamp.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stamp

“The Capture of Major André.” Birmingham Museum of Art, 25 Feb. 2025, www.artsbma.org/collection/the-capture-of-major-andre/

“Ten Great Paintings of the American Revolution.” The American Revolution Institute, 26 Apr. 2021, www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/treasures-of-the-american-revolution/ten-great-american-revolution-paintings/

American, Emanuel Leutze German. “Emanuel Leutze: Washington Crossing the Delaware: American.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1 Jan. 1970, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11417