What is Neoclassicism — Movement, Artists & Art Explained

What is Neoclassicism?

First, let’s define Neoclassicism

Neoclassicism is an important style to understand for writers, filmmakers, artists, and architects. Why? Because it changes how we think about classical art. And not just classical art as in “Greek and Roman art” but all art that we consider classical. For more, check out our index of art styles covering more specific and noteworthy movements.

For more on the basic ideas behind Neoclassicism, check out this quick video from Phil Hansen.

We’re going to cover some Neoclassicism examples in a bit, but first let’s quickly define Neoclassicism.

The Neoclassicism Era Explained

When did Neoclassicism start?

Neoclassicism took off around 1760 due to a growing dissatisfaction with the gaudy baroque art style and the emergence of archaeological findings by German pioneer Johann Joachim Winckelmann.

Let’s break down these two points in further detail.

First: the death of the baroque art style. The baroque art style was founded to contrast classical antiquity. Classical art was simple and sleek; baroque art was intricate and ostentatious.

Here’s a quick history of the baroque style from Phil Hansen.

The baroque era served an important role in art history, but over time, people got tired of the style and figured, “why not go back to the classics?”

Second: archeological discoveries. German historian Johann Joachim Winckelmann did more to advance Neoclassicism than perhaps anybody else. Not through his own artwork, but through his discovery of ancient art and architecture. Here’s a video on Winckelmann from Accessible Art History.

Winckelmann revealed the discovery of Pompeii to the masses — and the people loved it. In fact, they loved it so much that they wondered why settlements two millennia old looked better than the ones they currently lived in. So, they pushed for a return to classical antiquity, and thus the Neoclassical era was born. 

Neoclassicism Artists

Most famous Neoclassical artists

There aren’t many Neoclassical artists with the name cache of Da Vinci or Caravaggio. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of great Neoclassical artists. Quite the contrary, in fact, many of the most famous Neoclassical artists are regarded as preeminent leaders of their era.

Let’s take a look at a few of the most famous neoclassical artists.

Jacques-Louis David

David was a French painter who's credited as a leading figure in the Neoclassical movement. David’s 1784 painting Oath of the Horatii is considered a masterpiece of the Neoclassicism style. 

David commissioned dozens of Neoclassical works during his time as France’s resident maestro, but none were as revered as Oath of the Horatii.

Antonio Canova 

Canova was an Italian sculptor and plenipotentiary of the Catholic Church. His sculpted works (most notably of which were Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss and Venus Victrix) received international acclaim throughout Europe.

Canova served as a European authority on Neoclassical sculpting until his death in 1822.

Angelica Kauffmann

Kauffmann was a Swiss painter and founding member of the Royal Academy. Kauffmann painted a wide breadth of subjects, including historical landscapes and portraits. Perhaps one of her most famous works was a portrait of Johann Joachim Winckelmann (as seen below).

Her legacy lives on today in the eponymous world-famous Angelika Kauffmann Museum, which is located in Schwarzenberg, Vorarlberg (Austria).

Revival of the Neoclassicism Definition 

Why did Neoclassicism end?

Neoclassicism didn’t end in quite as spectacular a fashion as its predecessor, but it did diminish in popularity over time. Architecture has been perhaps the most enduring form of Neoclassicism; one which still pervades the world today.

The Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tennessee, constructed in 2006, is a great example of the continued legacy of Neoclassical architecture.

Neoclassical buildings of the 21st century have garnered the title of a “new classical style” much in the vein of the Neoclassicism style before it. But in truth there lies little distinction between the two.

Neoclassical and new classical art are both categorized by simple geometrical proportions and grandeur.