Stylistic Comparison

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Recommended: Essay on romanticism versus neoclassicism

When an artist creates a painting it is not only to make a picture. Its purpose is to create a feeling or mood. Usually drawing more than an ordinary moment in life, usually stirring some kind of emotion that the artist is passionate about he hopes the viewer will feel. This is the purpose and beauty of art. Throughout history, the arts have been a form of rationalization in the mind of an artist. The progression of knowledge over a period of time can be mapped by many artists' masterpieces. This shift in time can be seen in the romantic style of Eugene Delacroix's, Paganini, and the neo-classical style of Jean-Louis David's, The Emperor Napoleon in His Study. These two portraits reveal a completely different style; however they both represent emotion and passion in their artistic portals.

The Romantic style of the 18th century gives us a deepened appreciation of the beauty of art. It leads you to a preoccupation with the genius, the hero, and the exceptional figure and focuses on his passions and inner struggles. Eugene Delacroix paints a creative spirit with an emphasis upon imagination as a gateway to an inspiring experience and mysterious sensations. His portrait of the violinist Paganini, rejected the neoclassical emphasis on outline and form and used halftones, which he created by contrasting colors. With this blend of high contrast paints your fascination with his characters beautiful sorrow grows deep inside of you.

This painting, seen through modern eyes, gives off energy and increased intensity because of Delacroix's long, nervous brush strokes. He uses dark hues and neutral tones to portray a ghostly image that stirs your imagination. He seems to be almost floating in the black abyss of space. Dela...

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... used in the background of the portrait depict a natural, relaxed scene. The warm colors lure the eye to feel the emotion of this great figure.

The two portraits done by Delacroix and David embody the ideals of Romanticism and realism. They reinforce the poetic style of the 18th century. Delacroix depicts midnight black world filled with the image and emotions of the violinist. David on the other hand represents a powerful structure with elegance and status. Each of these paintings tells their own elaborate story with a contrast of paints, lines and shapes. They are complete in the style and knowledge of there own time periods. Although, both paintings look quite different when viewed next to one another, each artist uses the stylistic elements of the time to convey to the viewer a message they were attempting to give to the world.

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