Formed in the latter half of 18th century Western Europe, Romanticism was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement which competed against neoclassicism. It increased in popularity during the Industrial Revolution as It was partly a reaction against the scientific rationalisation of nature and the industrialisation of the landscape. It was also a challenge to the political and social situations of the time.
Romanticism incorporated strong emotions into its artworks - for example, in landscapes which gave the viewer a sense of awe or even fear when he looked into them. The theme of nature untamed was a common one in the Romantic movement. It also encouraged nationalism, valuing people's traditions, folklore and language.
Romanticism left behind the rational and Classical models, turning instead to more exotic styles and the use of imagination to create an escape from the ever growing cities and the increasing sprawl of industrialisation.
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The painting is based on Thomas Gray’s poem of the same name which tells the story of Edward I’s legendary massacre of the Welsh bards. In it we see the last surviving bard placing a curse on the English invaders before he leaps to his death
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The scene is made up of different parts of the Elbsandsteingebirge mountain range in Germany, which Friedrich sketched out in the field and then brought together in his studio.
The meaning of the painting has long been debated with some seeing it as an image of self reflection, others as a metaphor for the uncertainty of the future, and yet others viewing it as symbolic of man's mastery over the landscape - but also his insignificance within it |
Delacroix went on to be a successful artist, his most famous work being Liberty Leading the People which was painted in 1830.
Gericault painted this piece to depict the aftermath of the sinking of the French frigate Méduse off the coast of Mauritania in 1816, though many of his works were of horses, a subject at which he was very skilled. Sadly he died in 1824 at the age of 32 |
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The other three equestrian statues are a Roman warrior by Louis-Joseph Daumas, an Arab warrior by Jean-Jacques Feuchère, and a Greek warrior by François Devault.
Préault took part in the second French Revolution of 1830, during which his studio was broken into and vandalised and many of his works were broken |
The painting is one of a pair which Goya painted (the other being The Second of May 1808) in 1814 for the Spanish Government. Its influence is obvious in the works of other artists, in particular Picasso's 1951 piece Massacre in Korea (click here to view)
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In this picture an infant is in a boat which is being guided by an angel. The boat has emerged from a dark cave which Cole described as "emblematic of our earthly origin, and the mysterious Past".
In the second picture, Youth, the figure has reached adolescence and is now guiding the boat himself, heading for choppy waters. The third painting Manhood, shows the guiding angel watching from afar as the boat is caught in dreadful waters, and in the last of the series Old Age, the man has grown old, the waters have calmed and the river flows into the ocean of eternity |
Akseli Gallen-Kallela's works became an integral part of Finnish culture and helped to create a desire for independence from Russia which was achieved in 1917.
Gallen-Kallela's early works are of a romantic nature, but the death of his daughter in 1895 saw a change to a more aggressive style |
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Though he was born in Germany Bierstadt's family moved to the USA during his childhood. This painting was done whilst Bierstadt accompanied the Honey Road Survey Party which was led by the explorer and US General Frederick W Lander. The painting was well received and sold for the sum of $25,000 in 1865; a good deal of money at the time
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Gude went to the Lledr Valley near Conwy in the autumn of 1862. It is a place renowned for its beautiful landscape. He rented a house by the River Lledr where he painted one of the ancient Roman bridges. His stay in Britain was not very successful financially. He held two exhibitions but neither were well received. Despite this Gude was reported as saying that the experience was of benefit to him as an artist
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Artistic skill ran in Ward's family. His granddaughter Henrietta Ward was a successful painter and his great-grandson Leslie Ward was a caricaturist