Watteau's the Storm and Delacroix's the Sea Galilee: neoclassical and romantic approaches

¶ … storms paintings, Watteau's the Storm and Delacroix's the Sea Galilee, and their relation to Neo-Classical and Romantic styles

This work bases on two storm art works, which depicts storm in two different ways. The differences are explainable through two different artwork styles, neo-classical and romantic styles. Neo-classic art commonly referred to as the revival of artistic canon came into practice in the mid 1700s. This form of art aimed at criticizing the government's oppression the people. Artiste of these times used this form of art to show their dissatisfaction with the mode of governance. They fought for democracy through artwork. Romantic art began during the late 18th century to mid-19th century. It aimed at rebelling against the neoclassical times. The movement began as an intellectual and artistic movement, but its agenda was rebellion against the oppression. It values included the following individualism, subjectivism, irrationalism, emotions, and nature. This art style focussed more on emotions as the prevailing factor at the expense of intellect, reasons, and senses. This work focuses on two storms paintings Watteau's The Storm and Delacroix's, The Sea Galilee, and their relation to Neo-Classical and Romantic styles. It involves comparison of the artwork and categorising them in the right category according to the characteristics of each.

Delacroix's, the Sea Galilee Storm Image

This artwork is of ocean storm. It shows sea sailors struggling to reduce the effect of the storm by lowering the vessel. The artwork has both neo-classical and romantic features, but it is more of a neo-classical art than a romantic one. This artwork shows the use of bold colours from the storm background to the fishing vessels and the dressing of the characters on the painting. The art is not human centred its theme is clearly and it is the storm. It is not trying to show heroism just the sailors trying to save their lives. In the artwork, there is a sense of the ancient Greek mythological character. The portrait on the artwork of a sleeping woman on the right side of the vessel but at the front part is fabled.

This image clashes with the theme and the situation of the things. Despite the weather and its consequences, the woman seems relaxed and undisturbed by anything, not even the oncoming storm. This shows that the artwork shows no emotions at all. The image is not placed on an archaeological site most neoclassical artwork are placed on archaeological sites hence this setting may also depict the art is a romantic one. The costumes used by the characters in the art are unique and classical, this support the argument that the artwork is a neoclassical artwork (Martindale, 2000). This art shows the dissatisfaction of these people towards the idea of the storm. They are struggling to limit the effect of the storm on them by making the vessel more stable. They do this by lowering the propelling-cloth so that the stormy wind may not cause any unbalancing, which might lead to the vessel capsizing. From the discussed characteristics, one can conclude that The Sea Galilee Storm Image is more of a neoclassical image than a romantic one. It shows no emotion neither is it human centred. It does not portray individualism but rather togetherness with all the characters trying to reduce the effect of the storm on the stability of the vessel (Tapert, 2011).

This image depicts the harsh condition these people are going through during those times. The storm is a sign of oppression, and the action of stabilizing the vessel shows ways these people use to stop the oppression. Trying to stabilize the vessel is an indication of people trying to stop oppression. This interpretation supports the arguments that the image is a neo-classic image.

The image also uses the sea and fishing as a way of showing the main activities if the of ancient Greeks. The vessel is a fishing vessel source of the livelihood of these people and fighting to restore the source of the livelihood is fighting to restore good living conditions. The use of the traditional fishing vessel also shows the period of the art was ancient one. The period is between the mid 1700s when neo-classic art came into practice. The defining factor of the art is an outside factor. The stormy weather is the centre and the defining factor in the art (Creamer, 2008).

Conclusion

From the explanation of each artwork, it is easier to decide on the category of each. Delacroix's, the Sea Galilee Storm Image, is a neo-colonial art while Watteau's, the Storm is a democratic art. A characteristic such as the influence of outside factor, the stormy weather, as the defining factor makes the image a neoclassic art. The art is not human centred but rather a nature centred this also makes it a neoclassic art. The second artwork, Watteau's, the Storm depicts the following factors, which makes it a romantic artwork. It shows individualism, human centeredness, and acts of heroism. The human activities in the image outplay the natural one, which is the oncoming storm. The characters on the image display act of heroism and self-centeredness. The characters are more concerned with their own activities; the oncoming storm does not deter them from finishing their quests. The interpretations can also aid in grouping the images as either romantic or neo-classic art. The acts of the characters in the first image working together towards the same cause shows that they are selfless. Its interpretation may indicate that they are fighting against oppression and harsh conditions. On the second image, each person is concerned with his or her own work. This may show each individual's determination to fight for what he or she believes in hence doing everything necessary for its achievement. This shows the determination to restore the stipulated ways of art.

Work cited

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