Classicism

17th century Europe

Definition
Classicism - a term that, when applied generally, means clearness, elegance, symmetry and repose produced by attention to traditional forms More precisely, the term refers to the admiration and imitation of Greek and Roman literature, art and architecture kalon kai agathon Greek ideal of beautiful and good 17th century France, Italy, Germany and England

Historical Context

- the emerging of absolutist monarchies (France Louis the XIV le roi soleil) - the restoration of the monarchy in England (Stuart Dynasty) - The 30 Years War -religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants - witch hunts

Absolutist monarchy

Letat, cest moi!

Louis XIV, King of France

Restoration of the Monarchy in England

King Charles II of England

Ferdinand II German Kaiser

France

England

NorwayDenmark

Bohemia

Sweden

Saxony

Scotland

Netherlands

The Thirty Years War (1618 1648)

The Holy Roman Empire

Spain

Austria

Bavaria

Witchcraft Trials
A witch-hunt is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving moral panic, mass hysteria and mob lynching, but in historical instances also legally sanctioned and involving official witchcraft trials. The classical period of witch-hunts in Europe falls into the Early Modern period or about 1450 to 1700, spanning the upheavals of the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War, resulting in tens of thousands of executions.

Witch- trial
estimated number of burned witches :

1-9 million
(15th -18th century)

 Characteristics of a witch :

What is a Witch?

lack of church attendance the presence on a field before a storm knowledge of herbs kindredship or friendship to an already convicted witch homelessness witchy appearance old age witch-signs: non-sensitive parts of the body due to alliance with the Devil inability to shed tears low body-weight unable to drown in water

The Crucible
The Crucible A. Miller The Crucible - movie

Cultural Context

- painting: N. Poussin, Le Brun, J.M. Moreau

- architecture: Versailles Palace, Die Alte Oper, La Madeleine, etc.

Literature

vraisemblance the imitation of nature, the spirit of truth, harmony, artistic equilibrium of the work "Classical unities" of time, place and action
Unity of time referred to the need for the entire action of the play to take place in a fictional 24-hour period Unity of place meant that the action should unfold in a single location Unity of action meant that the play should be constructed around a single 'plot-line', such as a tragic love affair or a conflict between honour and duty.

elevated, adorned style and language purity of genres moralising value : fables by La Fontaine

Literature - Tragedy
Imitation of the Antique writers Tragic ending
Corneille : El Cid, Fedra

Literature - Comedy
The satire : term applied to any work of literature or art whose
objective is ridicule. It is more easily recognized than defined. From ancient times satirists have shared a common aim: to expose foolishness in all its guisesvanity, hypocrisy, pedantry, idolatry, bigotry, sentimentalityand to effect reform through such exposure. The many diverse forms their statements have taken reflect the origin of the word satire, which is derived from the Latin satura, meaning dish of mixed fruits, hence a medley Columbia Encyclopedy Topics dealing with everyday life Linear (non-evolving) character the avaricious, the misanthrope (Molire)

Literature - Novels
Topics: sentimental, adventure or philosophical drama Subjective narrative Complex characters, built around a main characteristic truth, honour, dedication, etc.

Literature - Poetry
Fixed-form poetry: the idyll, the elegy, ode or satire Rigorous in form and structure Moralising and teaching character of poems

La Madeleine Paris, France

Chateau de Versailles near Paris, France

The British Museum London, UK