Even though it seems as if the two periods are close in appearance, there are immediate differences that are obvious. There are also observations that are clear in terms of the use of colors as well as the perspective or lack thereof. Furthermore, the buildings are vastly different as well. This set the scene for the comparison and contrast of neoclassical and rococo artwork. In this discussion, the comparison and contrast will be between two paintings from these two periods.
Neoclassic is termed under the “Age of Reason” or as it is also known, Enlightenment. This is where the difference might be seen regarding this period and that of Rococo. Artist began creating artworks at an intellectual level. The Neoclassical paintings tell a story as well as have a moral to it. On such painting illustrating the way in which the paintings tell a story is the painting by Angelica Kauffman, Cornelia Pointing to her Children as her Treasures (see Figure 1). This 1785 painting illustrated the frugality, the modesty, and the maternal love of a Roman widow (Lewis, and Lewis, 2009, pp. 339, 342). This was starkly different to the Rococo paintings.
The first difference, as mentioned in the
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The Swing had elements in it that emphasized its frivolity. This can be seen particularly in the foliage that was added, the frilliness of the dress, as well as the shoe flying through the air. Added to that is the symbolism that is different to the more serious elements in Cornelia Pointing to her Children as her Treasure painting. Most analyses regard elements of symbolism in The Swing as follows: the dog in the foreground that represents faithfulness (“The Swing (1767),” 2017, n. p.) – others see it as a symbol of fidelity, which is in total contrast to what the content is meant to be. The painting is also a symbol of the decadence of the atrocity in France (YouTube, n. d., n.