Aesthetics of classicism
The new artistic style – classicism (lat. Classicus – exemplary) – followed the classical achievements of Antiquity and the humanistic ideals of the Renaissance. The orientation of classicism towards Antiquity, which became its cultural ancestral home, determined the content of the artistic problems it solved. The art of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome became for classicism the main source of themes and subjects. Almost obligatory were references to ancient mythology and history, references to authoritative scientists, philosophers and writers. In accordance with ancient tradition, the principle of the primacy of nature was proclaimed, which art should imitate. Thus, D. Diderot called for “studying Antiquity in order to learn to see Nature”. The philosophy of modern times was especially consonant with the idea of a republican form of government, which successfully manifested itself in the history of Ancient Rome.
Developing the ideals of the Renaissance, the art of classicism sought to reflect the ideas of a harmonious structure of the world, the subordination of individuality to the interests of society and the state. The ultimate goal of all social transformations for the educators was to build a more perfect society based on a humane attitude towards a person, on the recognition of his equality. Unlike the Renaissance, where only a select few corresponded to the ideal of a free personality, now every person could achieve a high social status. At the same time, following the ideals of Antiquity and the Renaissance, classicism managed to develop its own aesthetic program that determined the nature of this style.
The main content of the art of classicism was the understanding of the world as a reasonably arranged mechanism, where a person was assigned a significant organizing role.
In the creative method of classicism, regardless of the type of art, the desire for reasonable clarity, harmony and strict simplicity, for an objective reflection of the surrounding world, observance of correctness and order, subordination of the private to the main were laid. Classicism formed ideas of high aesthetic taste, called for restraint and calmness in the manifestation of feelings, focused on rationalism and consistency in actions.
Depending on the ability of a particular art form to solve the tasks assigned to it, its social and artistic significance was determined. Each of the types of art had its own special features. The basis of the architectural language of classicism is the order, which is much closer in form and proportion to the architecture of Antiquity. Architectural works are distinguished by strict organization – proportionality and balance of volumes, geometric correctness of lines, regularity of planning. A clear delimitation of plans, a severity of a drawing, a carefully executed black-and-white modeling of the volume are characteristic of painting. Literature and theater in particular, which became the most widespread type of art of that time, played a special role in solving the educational task.
Classicism developed into an integral style system in France during the era of the powerful King Louis XIV (reigned 1643-1715). It was here that a certain ideal model was developed, which made it possible to become the basis of creativity not only in one’s own culture, but also to conquer the artistic space of other European countries. The French model during this period was imitated in Spain, Germany and in the countries of Eastern Europe. Even England was forced to accept the authority of French culture. A special version of the style was created in Russian artistic culture in the late 18th – early 19th centuries. He found his manifestation primarily in architecture, but also in sculpture and painting. The spread of classicism was truly universal; the influence of this, perhaps the most international style, was felt even in the countries of North and South America.
Over the long years of its existence, the ideological orientation of classicism has changed more than once. If at first the art of classicism was inseparable from the idea of absolute monarchy and was the embodiment of integrity, greatness and order, then later, in the form of the so-called revolutionary classicism, it served the extremely contradictory ideals of the struggle against tyranny, for the establishment of civil rights of the individual, consonant with the Great French Revolution. At the last stage of its development, classicism actively expressed the ideals of the Napoleonic empire. He found his artistic continuation in the Empire style (fr. Empire – empire).
