18th-Visual+Art+and+Music

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=**Restoration and the Eighteenth Century (1660-1798) - Visual Art and Music**= Olivia Hart

As Restoration began, England was already contributing important ideas to Europe in the areas of literature, philosophy, and science. However, it was not until 1707, when Scotland and England united to form Great Britain, that the two countries became Europe's strongest economic power under the rule of Queen Anne. International trade flourished, the government stabilized, and along with the new sense of unity came a unprecedented patronage of the arts. As Great Britain continued to prosper, many British found that they had both the time and financial resources to enjoy and support both visual arts and music.


 * Visual Art**

During this period, British art displayed an ambitious new liberation of design. Most of the art during the time was heavily influenced by the conversation pieces of French and Italian artists, such as **Joseph Highmore**, best known for his twelve scenes of Richardson's Pamela, and **Francis Hayman**, who is famous for his decorations of the Vauxhall Gardens. Dominating Europe throughout the 18th century, the [|Rococo] style also gained popularity in both architecture and painting. However Rococo, which was an ornate and elegant decoration, was utilized more frequently in France than in Great Britain.

After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Great Britain seemed to enter a short period of **decorative painting**. This movement, lead by [|Sir James Thornhill], was the closest that Britain ever came to adopting the [|Baroque] style, which seemed to be prominent throughout Europe, and British painters were more influenced by the works of Italian and French artists. Beginning in the 18th century, Britain saw the development of a new style called **landscape painting**. Landscape painting, which majorly impacted both the [|Impressionist] movement and the [|Barbizon school], involved artists painting the rivers and the English countryside. Artists such as **Samuel Scott** and **John Crome** made an effort to capture the beauty of the scenery around them, paying specific attention to the sense of space in each work. One important landscape artist was Thomas Gainsborough. Although Gainsborough is known for his delicate portraits, which utilize flickering brushwork and Rococo techniques, he preferred to paint landscapes and his works were strongly influenced by those of the Dutch. Richard Wilson was another well-known British landscape painter. After studying for seven years in Italy, Wilson settled in London and often painted golden landscapes of the Italian countryside. However, Wilson is most noted for his ability to create landscape paintings that were more than just basic imitations of topography and decorative painting. During the second half of the century, artists attempted to branch off of the technique of British oil painting by utilizing **watercolors**. Influenced by the topographical creations of graphic artists **Paul Sandby** and **Francis Towne**, watercolors were often used to create works which looked similar to maps. Both of these techniques are still commonly referenced and used in the art world today.
 * Paintings**


 * Portraiture**

The most important genre of British painting, especially during the 18th century, was portraiture. One of most influential artists of this style was [|William Hogarth], who was James Thornhill's son-in-law. At the start of his career, Hogarth, who often utilized the Rococo style technique in his work, spent much of his time painting portraits of the royalty lifestyle in England, such as that of George I and George II. Hogarth is also credited with developing a type of narrative painting where his works have somewhat of a moral. Best known for his full-scale portraits, Hogarth created a variety of works, from //Captain Coram// (ca. 1740), to //The Actor Garrick and his Wife// (ca. 1760), to //The Shrimp Girl// (ca. 1740), a spontaneous piece which is considered one of the most popular British paintings of the 18th century. However, one of the key artists during this time was Joshua Reynolds. Reynolds was the complete opposite of Gainsborough and wanted his paintings to appeal to the educated rather than only please his audiences aesthetically. The ambitious Reynolds, who studied at Hudson in 1740, has had his works compared to those of Rembrandt and Michaelangelo. Other famous portrait painters include Allan Ramsay, Francis Cotes, and Henry Raeburn.


 * Sculpture**

Most of the British sculptures created during the Restoration and 18th century were either tombs or bust sculptures. The two most famous sculptors of the time period were [|John Michael Rysbrack] and [|Louis-François Roubiliac]. Rysbrack and Roubiliac, who each created many of the busts and tombs popular at the time, are considered partially responsible for the religious revival that took place in the 1700s. However, between the two, Roubiliac was considered to be the finest sculptor of the 18th century. Not only did he create many famous tombs, which are in Westminster abbey, but he was also known for his terracotta busts of figures such as [|Alexander Pope], **Martin Folkes**, and even fellow artist **William Hogarth**. However, at the end of the century, many sculptors moved to Rome, where they continued to create tombs that eventually began to reflect [|Neoclassical] elements.


 * Music**

By the time the 18th century had begun, many professionals found that they were able to enjoy music in various venues such as clubs, opera houses, and gardens. Many of the people in Britain's "middle class" not only wanted to hear music, but also had a desire to learn to play music themselves. Families started learning to play instruments, such as the oboe, harpsichord, and flute, and many began singing as well. In addition, many would flock to the Vauxhall or Ranelagh gardens to enjoy the concertos. With the high societal demand for music, Britain saw an influx of musicians and composers and quickly became the center of Europe's music scene. One of these composers and, likely, the most famous of the period, was George Frederick Handel.


 * George Frederick Handel (1685-1759)**

Born in 1685 in Halle, Germany, George Frederick Handel is considered to be one of the most well-known composers of the 18th century. Although Handel was born in Germany, he spent most of his life in London. It was there that he began composing operas, which were the most dominant pieces of his early career. However, one of Handel's most popular works was "The Messiah" (1741), which was an oratorio. The oratorio (large-scale vocal piece) was a type of composition which Handel himself created. By the time of his death in 1759, Handel had composed more than 20 oratorios, 50 operas, and a number of orchestral pieces. These include "Water Music" (ca. 1717), "Coronation Anthems" (1727), and "Music for Royal Fireworks" (1749).

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 * Other Famous Composers in Great Britain**
 * [|Thomas Arne]
 * [|Maurice Greene]
 * [|Thomas Lindley], a.k.a "the younger English Mozart"
 * [|John Stanley]
 * [|Daniel Purcell]


 * Unifying Principles**


 * **Religion -** Religion was a major theme of many works of art and musical compositions during the Restoration and 18th century. Although many landscapes and portraits did not specifically focus on religious aspects, the idea of a religious revival was evident in the sculptures of the time period. Most were busts and tombs which were placed in Westminster abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, and other churches throughout Britain. In addition, many British patrons of the arts collected paintings with suggested religious themes, consequently causing tension in the Protestant church, which disapproved these paintings. Music during the time period also serves as evidence of the unifying principle of religion. Handel, one of the most famous musicians at the time, composed "The Messiah," which includes the well-known "Hallelujah Chorus." The religious revival during this period, which was sparked by the Methodists, made religion one of the underlying themes of art and music.
 * **Prosperity** - After uniting with Scotland to form Great Britain, England became one of the strongest economic powers in Europe. Not only did trade flourish, but the government stabilized and much of the political unrest came to a standstill. As the country began to gain power, the people noticed that they were not only able to find work, but also had time and money to spend. As a result, the patronage of the arts significantly increased. Many people began to not only collect works of art, but enjoy music at garden concerts and opera houses as well. Some were even able to learn to play musical instruments themselves. As the people of Great Britain began to prosper, it became obvious that, as a result of that prosperity, the arts could be enjoyed while the people maintained a bit of financial security. In addition, the importance of portraiture in British society implies that **royalty** also played a critical role in artistic themes.
 * **Nature** - As both landscapes and topographical maps and watercolors became prominent in Britain, it became obvious that one of the major themes of visual art was nature. Landscapes, which were first painted at the beginning of the 18th century, heavily influenced both the Impressionist movement and the Barbizon school, meaning that these works made an impact on the time period. Artists focused on the conveying the beautiful and charming characteristics of the English countryside or of London. The concentration on sense of space was also important to these artists, which suggests that the British saw these "beautiful" elements of nature, often found in landscapes, as an escape from any unrest or tension.


 * Sources**

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 * Pictures**

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