18thB-Visual+Art+and+Music

=**18th Century and the Restoration: Visual Art and Music** =  Hana Chang

====In 1707, Scotland and England united to form Great Britain. Under Queen Anne, this newly formed country became the strongest economic power in Europe. As the economy continued to grow, the citizens of Great Britain had wealth to express their interests in visual art and music. ==== 

Visual Art
 18th Century Art was impacted by the discoveries of science and Christianity. Although artists still served the same types of clients as their forebears, the masterpieces they created changed. The art of the 18th century built on and exaggerated the tendencies of earlier periods. It became more refined, more delicate, more sensuous, more intellectual, more emotional, and more secular.

**Popular Forms of Visual Art**
 Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Sir James Thornhill led a brief period of decorative painting. This was because of an influx of Italian painters after the War of Spanish Succession. In the early 18th century, artists found a new freedom of design and an ambitious draughtmanship. This is clearly seen in Joseph Highmores series of twelve scenes from Richardson's Pamela.
 * __Paintings__**

 In the 18th Century, British artists began to look at landscapes as clients. It had a significant influence on the [|Barbizon]school and on the [|Impressionists]. Samuel Scott painted views of the Thames at London (Old London Bridge; Old Westminster Bridge.

During the second half of the 18th century, British oil painting was paralleled by watercolours. Paul Sandby's topographical drawings led to the delicate linear drawing of Francis Towne, and at the end of the century, to the atmospheric unity of the landscapes of John Robert Cozens.

 Pieter Scheemaker and Laurent Delvaux carved many tombs in Westminster abbey, however it was not until both John Michael Rysbrack from Antwerp and Frenchman Louis-Francois Roubiliac settled in England that two sculptors of European stature were active in England. Their tombs and busts were very well-known and were also something completely new to English sculpture. Rysbrack and Roubliliac were responsible for the religious revival that took place in the 18th century.
 * __Sculpture__**

Both men were revered, however Roubiliac received the honor of creating the finest sculpture in England during the 18th century. In 1737 he created his statue of Handel for the Vauxhall Gardens. In 1750 he worked as a modellar at the Chelsea china factory. Roubiliac's tombs in Westminster Abbey are occupied by some of the most influential British historical figures, including the 2nd Duke of Argyll and Lady Elizabeth Nightingale.



18th Century Art Styles
 The Rococo and the Neoclassicism styles dominated Western art in the Eighteenth century. They were both influenced by earlier developments in art history.

**__Rococo__**
 This style was inspired by Baroque precedents. It was dominated in Europe, but was especially popular in France. This playful style of art reflects an aristocratic preoccupation with leisure and frivolity.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**__Neoclassical__**
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The Neoclassical style reflects Classical (ancient Greek and Roman) art. Three words that describe this genre of art are stern, somber, and spartan. This style of art became extremely popular in the late 18th century.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">18th Century Famous Artists
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> __**William Hogarth**__ Hogarth invented a new form of secular narrative painting that imparts a moral. These paintings were often tragicomedies, and Hogarth's collection was always intended for a large public and a private gallery. His paintings are excellent evocations of like in Britain during the time of George I and George II. He utilized a rich and creamy paint handling and brilliant use of different textures that set him apart from his contemporaries.

__**Joshua Reynolds**__ <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">

Reynolds is historically the most important figure in British painting. He was born in Devon and was a pupil of Hudson in London in 1740. He studied in Rome from 1750 to 1752, with the goal to recreate the 'grand style' and portrait painting. His works include Augustus Keppel, Anne, Countess of Albemarle, Nelly O'Brien, and Lady Cockburn and her Children.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> __**Other Famous Artists**__

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Thomas Gainsborough]<span class="wiki_link_ext"> [|Francis Cotes] [|George Romney] [|Henry Raeburn] [|Thomas Lawrence]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Music
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> In the 18th century, Britain's middle class found that they had the time and money to attend operas and music clubs. As a result, England became the vibrant musical center of Europe. To share the wealth that many musicians in Britain had many foreign musicians moved to England to take part in the fame and fortune. A great number amateur musicians appeared as well for many families learned to sing or play a musical instrument (the most popular being the flute, oboe, violin, and harpsichord). From these many musicians, George Frederick Handel is unarguably the most famous.


 * George Frederick Handel** (1685-1759)

Handel was born in Halle, Germany in the year 1685. He moved to London in 1712 and gained immediate popularity, especially with England's royal circle. In London, Handel mainly wrote Italian Operas and oratorios. In addition, he also wrote pslams, motets, anthems, passions, cantatas, instrumental chamber works, and works for the piano (primarily harpsichord). One of Handel's most famous oratorios "Messiah" (1741) is being performed by the Green Hope High School Orchestra and Chorus on December 10.

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<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> [|Charles Avison] [|William Boyce] [|Joseph Gibbs] [|John Hebden] [|Daniel Purcell]
 * Other 18th Century British Composers**

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Unifying Principles
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> As a result of the growing economy, visual art and music became increasingly popular. Concert halls grew in attendance and artists were hired and paid to create the works of art that we see today. British patrons in the 18th century collected paintings of religious and mystical themes from foreign artists and commissioned many portraits, landscapes, and marine portraits at home. Music was also more widely sought after. The growing demand for music was not only seen in concert Halls, but also in private lessons as more people hired musical proficients to teach them musical instruments.

Although the Protestant Church disapproved of paintings, the religious aspect in art and music of the 18th century was apparent. Artwork, especially sculptures,reflected religious ideals.British patrons collected works that had religious themes. Also, in music, one of Handel's most famous piece of work, "Messiah" (1741), is solely about Jesus.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">MLA Citations
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> "Art History at Loggia | Exploring 18th Century Art Styles and Artists." //Loggia | Exploring the Arts and Humanities!// Web. 20 Nov. 2009. <http://www.loggia.com/art/18th/index.html>.

"British Art in the 18th Century." //Web Gallery of Art, image collection, virtual museum, searchable database of European fine arts (1000-1850)//. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. <http://www.wga.hu/tours/english/18_cent.html>.

"18th Century English Music History." //18th Century English Music//. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. <http://www.rslade.co.uk/index.html>.

"Handel, Georg Friedrich: Biography." //Jan: NAU Faculty/Staff Web Server//. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. <http://www2.nau.edu/~tas3/handel.html>.

"Overview of 18th Century Art." //HumanitiesWeb - Welcome//. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. <http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=g&p=a&a=i&ID=464>.

[] @http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=g&p=a&a=i&ID=464 [] [] [|http://www2.nau.edu/~tas3/handel.html]
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