Neoclassicism and Romanticism

What this page covers

This unit sits in the strand Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, within Art history. It follows the move from Rococo elegance to Neoclassical order and then to Romantic feeling. Most of the material is mind maps and flashcard decks, with a few quizzes, notes and flowcharts.

Where to start

Begin with the big picture. The mind map ART DURING THE ENLIGHTENMENT sets Rococo beside Neoclassicism and splits each into architecture, sculpture and painting. A note created from that map gives you the same content as text, which suits reading.

Then move to Romanticism. The mind map Romantics/ Romanticism explains the sublime: wild, majestic nature that leaves viewers awe-struck and sometimes terrified. Romanticism: Historical context adds the background.

Artists and design styles

• The GOYA mind map covers his historical context and life, including his role as royal painter and the War of Independence.
• DIRECTOIRE, FRENCH EMPIRE and GERMAN GREEK REVIVAL, BIEDERMEIER list design characteristics such as Greek and Roman motifs, plain walls and simple forms.
• Single-work maps look at pieces such as The Death of Marat and Fuseli's The Nightmare.

Using maps, flashcards and quizzes together

1. Read one map and say its main points aloud without looking.
2. Move to a flashcard deck such as Neoclassicism or Romanticism to practice names, works and dates.
3. Use a quiz such as Meaning conveyed quiz or 2.1 NCEA QUIZ to see what you still miss.
4. Return to the map for any gap.

Several decks come from course exams and image lists, so they suit image identification. Some resources mention AP Art History and NCEA Art History.

Ready when you are

Open a map that matches your next topic, test yourself on a deck, and see how much you recall.