18th Century to 19th Century. a Summary of Contexts

Summary of the early18th – 19th century

During the 18th century which was dominated by an industrialized world controlled by

technology and science it begins to shift towards a more natural, religious and creative

way of thinking and life. During this period revolution, revolt, rapid change of mind,

war and art will lead to the continual flow and inevitable shifting from neoclassicism

to romanticism. Classicism where logic, industrialization, technology, order, science

and modernization had taken a strong control over society and had also begun to

reject art, creativeness, blind faith, religion, nature and individuality. This is where the

romantics came in and stood up for all that was opposed by and being neglected by

the majority of a classicism society.

   The first signs of romanticism were spotted in the early 18th century in England,

where individuals began to construct grottoes, arbours and poems such as James

Thompson’s The Seasons (1730). This lead to more dramatic changes during this

period with most nobles or aristocrats now having a “English garden”, a style which

which made it look like a natural setting. This focus on natural beauty and elegance

is one of the key points. “Enthralling” the romantics with nature and all its forms.

Besides literature, art also starting taking on this movement towards the romantic era.

   However with Darwin’s theory of evolution in the 1700’s, which had very specific

details and records proving his statement it really split people’s opinion as to whether

to believe in facts or faith. On Darwin’s side he was able to prove that animals and

even humans had evolved from
smaller organisms. This was a extremely startling discovery and claim as during that

time no such evidence had ever been given and the majority of people had been

believing in religious reasons as to why people and animals were on earth. E.g god

put everything and everyone on earth. This in contrast to religion where everything

is based on faith and no real evidence was given. This drove many people away

from the churches and into the workforce and industries. However Religion in the

period of romanticism flourished from a withered state. As the ideals of it took over

imaginations, poems and stories which contained much heaven and hell imagery

persuaded many people back to faith and in turn strengthen religion in general.

  Also the revolutions in France and America caused a major change in the social

and politic hierarchy causing many nobles to no longer carry the power they use to.

This created a middle class and the once know peasants were able to make their

riches from industry, though there was much objection to change, the power of money

had easily taken over the power of social status.

    During the periods of the early 18th century to the 19th century a major shift from

neoclassicism where logic, industrialization, technology, order, science and

modernization to romanticism where art, creativeness, blind faith, religion, nature and

individuality were key features. There are many factors that contributed to this

including the revolutions of France and the America’s which changed social status of

nobility and enabled the peoples wants and needs to be eventually leading to the move

From neoclassicism to romanticism.