Le Neo-Classicisme

Of all the European artistic movements, Neoclassicism is undoubtedly the one that has accumulated the most misunderstandings. Fortunately, over the past thirty years or so, numerous exhibitions have been devoted to this movement and its leading figures, both in France and abroad. Nevertheless, clichés persist, portraying Neoclassicism as a mixture of coldness and pedantry, a literary and grandiloquent art form. Hugh Honour offers a fascinating reappraisal, covering all artistic techniques. Instead of offering an academic chronological overview, he explains the aesthetic, philosophical and political challenges, analyses some key examples, introduces us to unique and unknown artists who shared similar ideals throughout Europe, and does justice to geniuses such as Ledoux, David and Canova, highlighting all their facets.

ISBN: 9782252039625