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Be Swept Away by Romanticism
Romanticism emerged from a desire for freedom of thought, feeling and action. That path to freedom was through imagination rather than thinking. It is believed that this movement began in 1750 and lasted through 1850. The Romantic imagination stretched its perception of the Middle Ages into all worlds of fantasy. Nightmares and the grotesque became the subject of interests for Europe. Landscapes and discovery became the interest for North America. Whereas other parts of the world focused on nature and philosophy driven through poetry. The world was embracing a new art movement that focused more on the emotion of the artist as he created the piece and produced something beautiful. Here are a few of the artists that we think best represent Romanticism.
Those who appreciate the beauty of classic horse paintings will love to explore the work of George Stubbs. This English painter was best known for his paintings of these majestic animals, but he also painted a number of other animals such as dogs, birds and bulls. He did not paint these in a realistic style, but with his own imaginative interpretation of them in the wild. He allowed his emotion to create more epic depictions that what would be found in nature.
Landscape painter Thomas Cole was an English-born American artist and the founder of the Hudson River School, a mid-19th century art movement whose aesthetic was heavily influenced by romanticism. Cole worked primarily in the Hudson River Valley and the surrounding areas, including the Catskill and Adirondack mountain regions. His landscapes are considered some of the most beautiful American pieces and are attributed with the creation of many national parks.
Italian painter Francesco Hayez had a long and successful career, notable primarily for his historic themed paintings and lifelike portraits. His classic, romantic imagery shows the human experience through the artist’s imagination, which is much more elegant than real life. Both his choice in colors, and his attention to detail help to elaborate on what his vision of beauty was and has been appreciated greatly by the art world.
Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, William Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. His images are startling and beautiful in their complexity. This artist likes to draw inspiration from philosophy and literature, which makes sense when you know he is also a popular poet. Like many of the romanticism painters, Blake captures his emotion and imagination in the unexpected scenes he paints and shares with the world.
We hope that you look at these artists and the entire Romanticism gallery we have put together. Perhaps it will spark your imagination or connect with you emotionally, helping you to find the perfect high quality painting for your space.
About the Author Amanda Hadley
Amanda graduated from the University of Kansas, where she studied English literature and got a masters degree in library sciences. She enjoys reading, cooking and playing with her nephews. Her best friend is her little dog Brady.
