Romanticism in the city of London
Introduction
Within the historical context we have various changes that make the artistic movement of this era very clearly; It took place at the same time that the illustration cultural and intellectual movement, which also led to political and ideological changes. In turn, the French Revolution also had its share of influence.
The industrial revolution, and the strong nationalism and liberalism that grew within the population of England of the 18th century. Due to the industrial revolution, the rural exodus and the development of cities took place, as a consequence of this there was also a change of state and agricultural society; The proletariat appears. All these changes generate that a nostalgia for the past appears, for the landscape.
Developing
In this period critics, aesthetics and modern concept of art history are born. Now there is more independence from the artist and art, since the Church and the monarchy do not exercise the same power over artists. Sir Joshua Reynolds. He was born in Plympton United Kingdom, son of a teacher and belonging to a distinguished family of Devonshire.
He wanted to devote himself to painting after reading the treaty of Jonathan Richardson’s painting and moved to London to study with Thomas Hudson. When he returned to Plympton he became famous as a portraitist. He traveled throughout Europe, and it was in Italy, after seeing the works of the Italian teachers Miguel Ángel, Corregio, Masaccio and Tiziano where his art and artistic style was mostly influenced.
He returned to London becoming a very quoted painter. Sir Joshua Reynolds created the Literary Club with other artists, offered to be president of the newly created Royal Academy, became the first painter of the king as Velázquez in Spain, until he lost an eye and had to leave the painting. One of her most important works consists of her second stage and is the portrait of Lady June Halliday in which a young lady appears in the foreground, with a period dress in yellow tones and with a dark background full of clouds.
In the background we can appreciate nature because of what seems to be the clearing of a forest. The woman looks away from her to the left, she looks reflective but carefree. We could think that she was taking a cloudy ride. Thomas Gainsborough. He was born in Sudbury, his parents has sent London to study with Hubert Serlerlot, since they were aware of his son’s talent.
Flamenco painting and its great artists influenced it. After going to Bath to look for a more refined clientele, he sits in the city of London, and King Jorge III decides to call him to portray the royal family. He founded the Royal Academy and breaks with the latter in 1783 to expose his works in his residence of Pall Mall. Never leave England the art of him was mostly influenced by teachers of local collections. Although he felt attracted to the landscape, most of his works are portraits, since it was what a life was making.
Within his outstanding works we have the Lord and Mrs. Andrews, it is a portrait in which a couple is probably a marriage, they are under a tree; She sitting and he raised. Once again we find a rural background and the same cloudy sky, however in this work we can appreciate more light; The sun illuminates them on the right side. The man is dressed in uniform and carries a firearm, which leads us to think that he is an English soldier. The lady on the other hand carries a delicate blue dress. Next to them we can appreciate the figure of a dog, perhaps representing the family.
conclusion
Both painters came from the outskirts of London, but they formed and settled in the big city. In addition Reynolds traveled to Italy, and Gainsborough never left England. Both artists preferred other genres, but made portraits as a source of livelihood. Reynolds was associated with the exclusivity of London and intellectual friendships, Gainsborough on the contrary; His surroundings was more connected to music. It could be said that Reynolds was a more intellectual person and on the contrary Gainsborough was a more intuitive person. They were rival results, although their relationship was cordial and ended up enriching each other
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