Introduction
In the 18th Century, the Enlightenment offered a new way of thinking about humanity and the world. Two major figures were Voltaire, who believed that salvation was to be found in reason and science; and Rousseau, who believed that it could be found by returning to its original condition.
In art and culture, this first resulted in the taste for the "natural" - emphasizing morals, emotion, elegance, valor, sacrifice, and sincerity. Gainsborough, Labille-Guiard, Reynolds and Vigée-Lebrun were key figures in "Natural" art.
Later came a shift toward the Classical, prompted by the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and exemplified in the works of Canova, David, and Ingres. The classical Greeks and Romans seemed to embody Enlightenment ideals, and serve as models of political organization.
Featured work:
Juliana, Baroness Petre by Gainsborough. 1788. Oil on canvas, 88 ¾ x 57 ¼".
This interactive media project was created by Amber Thomas for educational purposes at the Art Institute of Atlanta and is in no way intended for commercial gain or as a source of public information.