Asher Sisneros

Asher K. Sisneros

Thomas E. Woods, Jr. 

Western Civilization Since 1493

December 23, 2024

The Neoclassical and Romantic eras were two distinct, contrasting artistic periods that covered literature, poetry, music, and architecture. 

“Noble simplicity” encapsulates the attitude of the Neoclassical era. Rather than embrace the grandeur of the Baroque period, the Neoclassics sought to beautify through simplicity and make their work appear effortless through sprezzatura. As a rebirth of the Classical Greco-Roman period, it pushed for an emphasis on serenity, order, and rationality, while also breaking away from the Middle Ages. In architecture, the grandeur of the Amiens Cathedral was replaced with the U.S. Capitol; in sculpture, Bernini’s ornate Tomb of Pope Alexander VII was replaced with Antonio Canova’s elegant Tomb of Pope Clement XIV; in painting, Rembradt’s Sea of Galilee was replaced with Jacques Louis-David’s highly symmetrical Oath of Horatii; in music, the reverence of Handel was replaced with the humor of Mozart; and in literature, the John Milton’s Paradise Lost was replaced with Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Amiens Cathedral:

U.S. Capitol:

Bernini’s Tomb of Pope Alexander:

Canova’s Tomb of Pope Clement:

Rembrandt’s Storm of Galilee:

David’s Oath of Horatii:

The Romantic era broke away from the Neoclassical era by placing far more emphasis on individual expression over conventional rules. In music, the works of Tchaikovsky and Chopin exhibit far more rubato than the Neoclassical works of Mozart. There is, of course, still adherence to musical grammar and time signatures in Chopin’s work, but there is far more liberty given to the pianist in interpreting how to play Chopin’s music than his Neoclassical predecessors. While Romanticism was not opposed to Neoclassical logic, it placed far more emphasis on the expression of individual emotion over intellectual reason. There was also a rekindling of interest in the Middle Ages, gothic tradition, folk music, and nature. The Westminister Palace was built in a neo-gothic style, replicating the medieval cathedrals; Caspar David Friedrich painted A Sea of Ice to depict the dangers of nature; Victor Hugo wrote Les Miserables, a novel about a criminal who is given mercy and proves that redemption is possible, driving the black-and-white legalist Inspector Javert to insanity and eventually suicide; and Mary Shelly wrote Frankenstein, a story about a creature who is hated by society and his creator, Dr. Frankenstein, despite his best attempts to show them love.

Westminister Palace:

Sea of Ice: