classic art

Classic art is a term used for art created before the modern period. Many critics and scholars have made a distinction between classic art and the subsequent movements of impressionism, post-impressionism, and expressionism. The phrase 'classic art' was coined in the nineteenth century to describe paintings which were thought to exhibit the ideal aesthetic ideals; however, since then it has often been used as an umbrella term for the period of art from roughly the Renaissance and Baroque eras to about 1848, though this varies depending on the area of focus. Many classic art movements evolved out of the Renaissance; however, they are usually distinguished from their later counterparts by ideology and style. Classic art is famous for its technique and style. There are varying interpretations of what classic art means, however, many believe it to contain the following characteristics: formality; subject matters such as mythology, religion or history; and controlled use of color. The golden age of classic art is a term used for the period originating from the Renaissance era to about 1848. It was a time where classic art flourished, though it was also considered by many contemporary critics as an "age of faith". There were five schools of thought in that period: Mannerism; Baroque; Classicism; Rococo; and Romanticism. Mannerist art was the idea of using strange contrasts in works, such as certain elements being extremely distorted or elongated for different aspects of a piece, to create jarring feelings in the audience. The Baroque style still contained some classically inspired features, however, it also had a more emotional element and was darker in color. Classicism represented a less emotional, more controlled approach to art than the Baroque style that came before; it often featured purer elements and easier lines. Rococo artwork typically had bright colors, light lines, and a lot of ornamentation. Romanticism was very melodramatic and sentimental in its nature; many of its themes took inspiration from the literature of that period, as well as ideas from the enlightenment and political upheaval. Classic art was first known to flourish in Italy, specifically Florence. Ever since then, it has had a huge influence on Western culture and later art movements. The style of classic art is often contrasted with that of modernism or contemporary forms of visual expression. This is because classic art was created at a time when many people believed there were universal truths in the world and they wanted to capture those truths in their art. These universal truths were seen as universals of form, space, color, and emotion.

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