The Romantic Era: History, Background, and Philosophy

Goethe was the man during the Romantic Era when it comes to philosophy.  He led the Sturm und Drang, (storm and stress) movement against Neo-Classicim.  Sturm und Drang was the foundation of the romantic era.  Much of the philosphy was based on turmoil and emotion within the human being.  Goethe's novel Faust is a good demonsration of such turmoil.  Another element of the romantic era was the near worship of nature.  Romantic writers and philosophers often compared human existence to that of nature.  For example, in Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights, she uses a dark sky and a twisted, old tree to represent the mood and feelings of the characters.  It is important to pay close attention to the use of nature in all romantic reading.  To end, here is a snippet from Wuthering Heights:

'May she wake in torment!' he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion. 'Why, she's a liar to the end! Where is she? Not THERE - not in heaven - not perished - where? Oh! you said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer - I repeat it till my tongue stiffens - Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you - haunt me, then! The murdered DO haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts HAVE wandered on earth. Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! only DO not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I CANNOT live without my life! I CANNOT live without my soul!'

He dashed his head against the knotted trunk; and, lifting up his eyes, howled, not like a man, but like a savage beast being goaded to death with knives and spears. I observed several splashes of blood about the bark of the tree, and his hand and forehead were both stained; probably the scene I witnessed was a repetition of others acted during the night. It hardly moved my compassion - it appalled me: still, I felt reluctant to quit him so. But the moment he recollected himself enough to notice me watching, he thundered a command for me to go, and I obeyed. He was beyond my skill to quiet or console!

...I held no communication with him: still, I was conscious of his design to enter, if he could; and on the Tuesday, a little after dark, when my master, from sheer fatigue, had been compelled to retire a couple of hours, I went and opened one of the windows; moved by his perseverance to give him a chance of bestowing on the faded image of his idol one final adieu. He did not omit to avail himself of the opportunity, cautiously and briefly; too cautiously to betray his presence by the slightest noise. Indeed, I shouldn't have discovered that he had been there, except for the disarrangement of the drapery about the corpse's face, and for observing on the floor a curl of light hair, fastened with a silver thread; which, on examination, I ascertained to have been taken from a locket hung round Catherine's neck. Heathcliff had opened the trinket and cast out its contents, replacing them by a black lock of his own. I twisted the two, and enclosed them together.

From Rococo to Revolution: Art, Music, and Literature

The best word to describe the art and architecture of this time is froo-froo.  Everything was very feminine and delicate.  The colors used in art were pastels and the theme was usually love.  Architecture was very gaudy.  Here are some examples.

Watteau

Boucher

Carriera

Fragonard

The most famous literature this time was written by the philosophers mentioned in the previous post.

The music of this time is categorized into the Baroque and Classical eras.  Interestingly enough, there is no music said to be from the Rococo era.

So there you have it.  A short blog post, but the main point was this: froo froo.

From Rococo to Revolution: history, background, and philosophy

The Rococo was short and sweet.  It was like a palate cleanser in between two main dishes: the Baroque and Romantic Eras, which were very moving and almost emotionally taxing times.  The Rococo was much more lighthearted in it's artistic forms, which I will discuss in the next blog post. The time period for the Rococo was from about 1700-1815, meaning it took place during the American Revolution and Napolean's reign. 

Philosphy during this time was developed by Pope, Swift, Voltaire, Hume, Rousseau, and Paine.  It was dominated by satire and a cry for the need of social reform.  Below is an excerpt of an essay by Swift, called "A Modest Proposal." The whole essay is somewhat lengthy, but well worth the read.  Swift was known for his satiristic form of writing.  This work especially is known for it's brilliance in solving a problem (the burden of the poor in Ireland), albeit in a very unexpected and unnaturally calm way. 

"I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragoust.

"I think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom, a very great additional grievance; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the common-wealth, would deserve so well of the publick, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation.

"But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the children of professed beggars: it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age, who are born of parents in effect as little able to support them, as those who demand our charity in the streets...

"I do therefore humbly offer it to publick consideration, that of the hundred and twenty thousand children, already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle, or swine, and my reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore, one male will be sufficient to serve four females. That the remaining hundred thousand may, at a year old, be offered in sale to the persons of quality and fortune, through the kingdom, always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump, and fat for a good table. A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt, will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter..."

The Baroque Era: Art, Music, and Literature

Have you felt so jealous that you considered ending your very existence? Well, that is how Borromini, an architect of the Baroque Era, felt, and exactly what he did. His life is a symbol for the Baroque Era: full of passion, movement, and novel ideas. He had talent, but he was jealous of what he did not have and tormented by ideas of losing his fame to a man named Bernini. Because he was so competitive Borromini created some exquisite architecture that still exists today. Although he ended his life prematurely, his gift and influence as an architect lives on.

Borromini is most famous for his Church of San Carlo all Quattro Fontane. The beautiful curves accentuate developments of the time and the corinthian columns reflect a more classical and familiar style. What Borromini has done is to bring in the new while utilizing the old; this way, citizens feel comfotable examining his architecture while learning to appreciate newer styles.

The interior is also blooming with flamboyance and innovative creativity. From looking at this building, it is hard to imagine how a man so talented could be so jealous of another.

This is Bernini's David. It is much different than the classic form sulpted by Michelangelo. Here, David is in the act of slinging a stone toward Goliath's head. The expression in his face and accuracy of the anatomy is astounding. Bernini's talent, good looks, and charm won him patrons and much attention that Borromini never had.

The most famous artists of the time were Caravaggio who is famous for his use of light, Caracci, de La Tour, Poussin, El Greco, Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Gentileschi who was one of the first women to make a significant contribution in the way of art. There are others, but I feel that these few are a good representation of the diversity between artists even in one time period.

Caravaggio (above)

Caracci

de La Tour

El Greco

Vermeer

Rembrandt

Gentileschi

The most famous musician of the Baroque Era is Johann Sebastian Bach. He is one of the giants that held up many future musicians. The music of this time is characterized by a very steady tempo, polyphony, and more dynamics than in past music. Opera was also developed during this time.

Another famous musician of the era was Geroge Frideric Handel, known most for his Messiah. See the playlist towards the bottom if you're interested in hearing his and Bach's music.

Literature at this time was beginning to become more widely read due to the printing press. the Bible was translated and published so all who had money to buy one, could read it. John Milton wrote Paradise Lost, and John Donne wrote poetry in the metaphysical style. Here is one of my favorites: "No man is an island, entire of itslef; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's desath diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."