Classical Blog Exhibit
The Role of Art in the Rising Power of the European Middle Class in the 1700s
Influential artists like Joseph Wright, Thomas Gainsborough, and William Hogarth contributed significantly to the expanding economic clout of the European middle class in the 1700s. These works of art represented the cultural and material goals of the middle class, which was growing in power in European society.
Satirical artwork by William Hogarth like "A Harlot's Progress" and "A Rake's Progress" was very well-liked by middle-class audiences. They were a reflection of the burgeoning consumer culture that was stimulated by the growth of industrialization, urbanization, and trade and commerce. Hogarth's artwork provided a visual portrayal of the middle-class identity while also capturing the fashion, entertainment, education, and social conventions of the average middle-class person. His engravings and paintings argued for a more equitable and meritocratic society, challenging the accepted customs of the aristocratic elite.
Similar to this, Thomas Gainsborough's portraits, such "Mr. and Mrs. Andrews," reflected the rising economic and social mobility of the middle class. The wealthy couple is depicted in the artwork as landowners and landed gentry, surrounded by their property, which represents their riches and social standing. The Andrews' posture and dress also hint at their sophisticated preferences and goals in terms of culture, which were typical of the nascent middle class. Gainsborough's artwork portrayed the yearning of the middle class to adopt the customs and values of the aristocracy.
Paintings by Derby artist Joseph Wright, including "Giving a lecture at the orrery," captured the fascination with science and technology among the middle class. The orrery, a mechanical representation of the solar system, served as a metaphor for the interest of the middle class with science and technology. The wealthy audience in the artwork is seen listening to a presentation on astronomy, a subject that was well-liked by the educated middle class. The opportunity to invest in education and intellectual pursuits, as well as the middle class's desire to learn about things outside the purview of the traditional aristocratic elite, were all depicted in Wright's paintings.
Ultimately, the works of Hogarth, Gainsborough, and Wright were crucial in creating modern Europe and laying the foundation for democracy in both politics and culture. Their work challenged the established social order while reflecting and reaffirming the cultural and economic goals of the middle class. As a result, they contributed to improving the middle class's standing and securing its position as a major force in European society.
William Hogarth's Gin Lane was created in 1751. The print now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The economic clout of the European middle class in the 1700s is reflected in William Hogarth's "Gin Lane," which emphasizes the unfavorable effects of their increased riches and consumerism. The artwork shows a scene of destitution, filth, and addiction in a London slum where the working-class populace was heavily into gin. Gin use by the middle class stimulated the rise of the distilling sector, but it also brought up significant social and economic issues. In order to alleviate the situation of the urban poor, social responsibility and public welfare measures are necessary, as illustrated by the cautionary tale "Gin Lane," which warns of the perils of unfettered capitalism.
The wealthy couple is portrayed in Thomas Gainsborough's
"Mr. and Mrs. Andrews" as landowners and members of the landed
gentry, reflecting the financial influence of the European middle class in the
1700s. The couple is depicted in the artwork in a rural setting, surrounded by
their property, which represents their social standing and wealth. The Andrews'
posture and dress also hint at their sophisticated preferences and goals in
terms of culture, which were typical of the emerging middle class. The image depicts
the rising economic and social mobility of the middle class as well as their
desire to adopt the way of life and ideals of the aristocracy.
By portraying a scene of scientific instruction and
discovery, Joseph Wright of Derby's "Giving a lecture at the orrery"
shows the economic clout of the European middle class in the 1700s. The orrery,
a mechanical representation of the solar system, served as a metaphor for the
interest of the middle class with science and technology. The wealthy audience
in the artwork is seen listening to a presentation on astronomy, a subject that
was well-liked by the educated middle class. The orrery stands for the ability
of the middle class to invest in intellectual endeavors and education, as well
as their desire to learn about and engage with cultures outside of the
traditional aristocratic elite.
Hello Tamrit, I think your blog was done very well; your blog is organized and detailed and you do a great job at establishing a theme and connecting each painting to the theme. The theme you decided to discuss (The Role of Art in the Rising Power of the European Middle Class in the 1700s) was not the one that I wrote about in my blog post for this assignment so you gave me a lot more insight upon me reading the information you have given. Something I really enjoy and appreciate about your post specifically is the fact that all the paintings that are displayed have very different and distinct styles yet they are still from the same era and are all connected. Something I thought was interesting to add about Mr. and Mrs. Andrews is that their marriage was an arranged one, which is understandable as a lot of upperclass people (especially during this time) had arranged marriages (https://art-facts.com/mr-and-mrs-andrews-thomas-gainsborough/).
ReplyDeleteHello Tamrit! Nice job on your classical blog! I thought the three paintings chosen were a good representation of the role of art in the rising power of the European middle class in the 1700’s. I also used Giving a Lecture at the Orrery for my classical blog about art and scientific discovery in the 1700’s. I would appreciate if you enlarged your font for the next blog. It was difficult to read. Also, I wish you would include the paintings you referred to in your introduction rather than just list the names. It would be nice to see what you were referring to. For example, A Harlot’s Progress and A Rake’s Progress. I agree with you that Gin Lane was the standout! Such an emotionally provoking piece and it only gets worse the closer I look. I really enjoyed the video about this piece from this week’s readings. It’s also really interesting to me that this piece is in black and white. I really appreciated your explanation of Mr. and Mrs. Andrews because from my initial look it doesn’t appear extraordinary, nor did I really catch a theme from first glance. I can see now that the picture depicts a reflection of economic status. The pastel color palette is impactful to me. I love the clouds in this painting. The color in your last painting choice is also interesting…it’s so dark and mysterious. Without your historical review, I would not guess that these three paintings were created from the same era.
ReplyDeleteHello Tamrit,
ReplyDeleteOut of the three paintings that you chose from, Gin Lane by William Hogarth appeals to me the least. I personally do not care for the faces because they creep me out, but I do like how the lack of color does seem to add to a deeper meaning of how Gin Lane is not all it is cracked out to be. A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery is my favorite out of these pieces due to how realistic the people are within the painting. It almost looks like a photograph with the way the light is emanating upon their faces. Even though all three paintings are different styles, they all accurately depict one of the classical era's themes of middle class growing in economic power during the 1700's due to who are depicted in each of the paintings. I did find it interesting how the production of Gin Lane was able to not decrease the number of gin shops, but also increase the taxes on gin within England showing how powerful of an influence art can have on society.
“Gin Lane: Works of Art: Ra Collection: Royal Academy of Arts.” Gin Lane | Works of Art | RA Collection | Royal Academy of Arts, https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/gin-lane-1.