Rococo to Revolution: Art in Eighteenth-Century Europe

3 units

The Long Eighteenth Century serves as a bridge between two fundamentally different times. The Europe of 1700 was dominated by absolutism and the ancien régime. The Europe of 1800 was in an age of revolution. This course will explore the dramatic shift in artistic representation and individual self-conception that occurred throughout the century to usher in our modern age. Important topics to be considered include: the rise of the Academy; the Enlightenment and the Encyclopédie; the Grand Tour; Art and Science; and the French Revolution. Focusing on the development of artistic trends, the course will address transformations in painting, sculpture and architecture throughout Europe.