The Victorian Era
The Victorian Era began and ended with the reign and death of Queen Victoria in Great Britain. Architecture may be what first comes to mind from this period. Yet Victorian Art in its different forms played a major role in global society due to the size and power of the British Empire.
Queen Victoria came to power in 1837 after the death of her uncle. Her reign would last until her death in 1901. She was the longest reigning monarch in England except for Queen Elizabeth II.
The empire reached as far as Asia to also Africa. It is said that in this time one fourth of the worlds population was under her rule.
This period within the 1800s was one of many changes. Some were good, while others were not so much. Nevertheless the world was beginning to transition with new discoveries in technology and industry.
With this would come movements which sought to break free from traditional thoughts.
Defining Victorian Art
Victorian Art has many movements within it yet this era began within the period of Baroque Art and Classicism. To be more understood these works focused on historical figures.
Predominantly Classicism focuses on realism in light of the older Greek and Roman pinnacle within art. Detail and life like rendering with great accuracy to the human form was desired.
While classicism itself began closer to 1760 it would eventually prevail as the dominant movement in art. As Queen Victoria came to power this movement was the focus of all within Europe.
With the turn into the 1800’s there was a social interest within Britain to tour the Mediterranean fueled by these older cultures.
The influences also reached in to other aspects of culture such as architecture and writing. It would be archeological findings that fueled interests into this movement.
Romanticism Art was also popular at in this same period of time. While often the works could display similar periods of history as classical, the theme separated one from the other. These works often would hold a broader scope in periods and people of history depicted, and could be religious in nature.
An American painter named James Whistler settled within England in 1859. He brought the introduction of Impressionist Art. While this movement was notably one of the more famous of the French Arts, it was not recognized by the elites of Art Society.
Their view of Impressionism was given as complete disdain, and at times contempt. It would take until Post-Impressionism for the art to be more recognized in what the artists contributed to the world.
Impressionism did not focus on the past virtues of Victorian Art which lay in realism. The impressionist would shift the focus of art more to a stylized variation with its portraits and figure painting.
While the art was more stylized, it was still to great detail especially when capturing light, nature, and the natural state of the people. Stripped away were the vain concepts that its predecessors held.
Yet it was ideas such as this which planted the seeds of Art Nouveau. This era would be an incubator for what would come through men like Picasso.
While Art Nouveau is often cited as coming to its rise in 1890, the beginnings can be found in France dating to the 1870s.
Its focus was on aesthetics and often every day objects. It could exist in a spectrum between realism and stylized art. It was a counter culture seeking to shift away from traditional Victorian Art styles.
The peak of this moment affected both art and architecture throughout Europe. Though often cited as lasting until 1920, its peak would be between 1890 to roughly 1900. By 1910 the movement had begun to wane as the rise of Art Deco would begin its rise to dominance in 1920.
Often Art Nouveau and Art Deco could cross lines blending into one another. It could be said that the former was a natural progression into the next. By studying the works of men like Picasso who’s work spanned these periods, a notable shift in this progression can be seen.
The Victorian Era would end in 1901 within the latter portion of the Art Nouveau period. These arts would end abruptly due to more than just the death of Queen Victoria. It would be the rise of industrialism and World War 1 that would forever alter the course of history.
An Era To Bridge Two Worlds
The Victorian Era is very unique in its timing and position. It would bridge the old world with the new. While the Americans shed the idea of Monarchism in 1776, it was only the French which would also attempt this but fail. The rest of the world would continue to embrace these older ideas for some time.
The focus of arts within this period always spoke to greater and grander things. Whether it be religious in nature or the epoch giants of history, the concepts were to be larger than life.
Additionally the pieces which focused on the people themselves were always those of wealth, position, or power. The common man was rarely captured in the works.
The change within art came from the geopolitical and social shifts which the world began to see. By the time of the Impressionists and rise of Art Nouveau, life itself within Britain had changed.
The rural regions were being abandoned for the cities to have jobs in factories. The very fabric of life was being altered.
Counter cultures began to come onto the scene due to these shifts. Common people were more interested in common things. With this brought a wind of change that could not be stopped.
By 1900 many estates within Great Britain were struggling to maintain solvency. With the onset of World War 1 and the post war issues, many estates began to disappear.
It would be within this period that the Monarchy would fail due to economic and cultural shifts rather than a revolt.
When Queen Victoria came to power the Monarchist were at the height of their power. Britain itself being the most powerful.
The classical era carried with it all the opulence and culture of the time. Yet by her death a new world had been born.
Why Is Victorian Art Important Today?
Of all the eras of history where art can capture an evolution of culture and society, it would be the Victorian Era which would capture the most. There were many potential disastrous events which could have taken place if it were not for critical reforms that happened at the right time.
This era held within it two worlds with both fighting for dominance. One was clinging to the past, while the other was bringing with it the future.
The abolishment of slavery within the British Empire was a major shift which shook the world. The United States would also follow suit after more than one attempt at this same concept through the 1800s.
Reform in 1838 through the People’s Charter was groundbreaking. It established representation for non land owners, provision for equal representation, and annual elections was a major shift.
The world was on fire with change as it sought to shed the old ideas which chained the common man. This struggle would be forever captured by the artists of the time.
In 1845 the Irish Potato Famine would forever alter the demographics of Great Britain. The Irish would seek refuge across Europe and America. France and Britain would declare the Crimean War in 1854. This would give birth to the icon Florence Nightingale.
The Victorian Era was ripe with change that was spreading across the world. There are few periods of history where so much change took place so quickly outside of the 1900’s.
It would be because of the advancements, shifts in society and politics, and the rise of industry, that the 1900’s would become what it was.
It is this period of history which had the birth pains bringing the modern world into existence. Whether it be technology, or the remapping of borders, globally their art enshrined some of the most significant moments of the modern world.
Present Day Stigmas In Art From Victorian Times
It is interesting to note that within some circles stigmas within art still exist. History is a fun thing to study to only see we as people do not change as much as we think. The kick against the Art Nouveau movement and Impressionism is not isolated to the Victorian Era.
It would be through the 1950’s and 60’s that we too would see similar counter cultures evolve in more recent history. Monochromatic and Nonrepresentational Art would rise while the accepted art of the elites would look on with question.
A different time yet once again the same principles were at play.
While the Victorians held classical art to high esteem, we have our own variation through realism although it captures a much broader spectrum in art.
One of the virtues of classical art was its realistic qualities. When the Impressionist came on the scene they broke stride with these traditions.
By the 1960’s Abstract Art was far more accepted by people when compared to its inception within the 1940’s, and the Expressionists of the early 1900’s. Despite the Art Deco period and those such as Andy Warhol, there was still a very real struggle between the art styles at play.
This struggle was a battle between what art is, or what it is not. What is its purpose and function of art is an age old argument reaching back across epochs of history. What educated art was from a classroom did not always match what was represented in more liberal galleries.
The digital age would further complicate this contrast as technology gave abilities which never before were possible. Art today seems to be whatever one wishes art to be.
While this is still not accepted among many circles it is interesting to see the forces at play. Educated art theory, design, and what people accept is often an interesting mix.
Test Of Time In Victorian Art
Of all the things which survived from the Victorian Era the architecture stands out above the rest. There is no doubt that when one speaks of this period one thinks of architecture first. We can see it in our history, landscapes, and older landmarks.
Cities such as Charleston still hold historic districts filled with Victorian architecture. These homes can be seen in the old city.
While they may have their own flair, the distinction to their time is clear. Walking these streets is like stepping back in time to another age which has been lost to us now.
Its popularity still exists within some home designs. There are those which still favor many features and seek to reproduce these aspects within modern homes.
It has forever left its fingerprint on culture and design.
Another unique yet grand landmark is the Biltmore Estate. This home that is no less than a castle or manor, holds many key pieces that reach across the 1700’s and 1800’s within its halls and rooms.
These pieces are not reproductions, but rather real pieces of history which come from this era of history. One can witness first hand how art transitioned through this period of time. It is one of the largest collections to the period in a traditional setting.
While the estate itself is clearly not the common mans home, the Victorian Era was by concept often not about the common man.
The full scale of its grandeur can be witnessed on American shores with a home that rivals that of many British estates.
Dangers From Modern Cultural Movements
There is a sect within modern movements to hate all things historical which even remotely hint of anything offensive. The 1800’s was born out of adversity and conflict across the world.
Removing monuments and erasing history is never the answer.
It is through these landmarks that history is remembered so that we do not repeat mistakes.
It is also because of history that we can bring with us the best parts of who we are.
The irrational anger which has begun to take hold of society today ignores these critical principles which are far older and come from far more enlightened people.
No society has ever existed without its scars. Rather than trying to erase or ignore them, it is imperative that future generations learn their meaning in order to build a future where fewer scars will be left behind.