Romantic art

Romanticism in the visual arts, originating in the 1760s, marked a shift towards depicting wild landscapes and dramatic scenes, reflecting a departure from classical artistic norms. This movement emphasized the sublime beauty of nature, the intensity of human emotions, and the glorification of the past, often through the lens of national identity and historical events.

Romantic art spread across Europe, gradually influencing various forms of artistic expression, and later resonated in America where artists incorporated these themes into portrayals of the unique American landscape. Its influence eventually spread globally, shaping various art forms and inspiring artists to express a more profound, emotional response to the natural world and societal changes. Romantic art highlighted the power of the individual perspective and the universal human experience, resonating across different cultures and leading to lasting impacts on artistic expression worldwide.

George Stubbs, A Lion Attacking a Horse (1770), oil on canvas, 38 in. x 49 1/2in., Yale Center for British Art

John Henry Fuseli, The Nightmare (1781), oil on canvas, 101.6 cm × 127 cm., Detroit Institute of Arts

Francisco Goya, The Third of May 1808, 1814

Théodore Géricault, The Raft of the Medusa, 1819

J. M. W. Turner, The Fighting Téméraire tugged to her last Berth to be broken up, 1839

Joseph Vernet, 1759, Shipwreck; the 18th-century "sublime"

Joseph Wright, 1774, Cave at evening, Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Massachusetts

Philip James de Loutherbourg, Coalbrookdale by Night, 1801, a key location of the English Industrial Revolution