Classical Art Oil Painting Reproductions

Classic Art Paintings: A Brief Introduction

Classical art is something artists have taken inspiration from and rallied against since the dawn of “classical” civilizations themselves.

Nonetheless, it’s also an often misunderstood term that’s famously tricky to define. This brief introduction explains what classic art paintings are and their defining characteristics. We also examine five famous artists and their most famous classical paintings.

What does Classic Art mean?

“Classicism” refers to art taking inspiration from ancient Greece or Rome.

This period of classical antiquity, spanning from the 8th century BC to the 6th century AD, witnessed the flourishing of civilizations along the Mediterranean Sea. They gained massive influence throughout Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. 

Starting with the epic Greek poetry of Homer, the period covers the rise of Christianity in the 1st century AD, through to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Lasting until the decline of classical culture in the 6th century, the term includes many cultures and histories, supplying rich and varied artistic sources.

Classical art paintings and descriptions of “classic” and “classical” appeared during the 17th Century. The culture and philosophy of art from Rome and Greece were significant inspirations for writers, thinkers, artists, and architects. This style dominated Western artistic production from the late Renaissance art movement onwards. Indeed, classical mythology and tales of ancient Greek and Roman heroes and Gods became one of the most popular subjects for classic art paintings.

What are the characteristics of Classical Art paintings?

People usually associate classical paintings with principles of restraint and harmony. This art form emphasizes obedience to accepted composition, color, and technique forms. These standards draw inspiration from the art of ancient Greece and Rome, which classicists sought to emulate.

All artists in this genre shared a deep respect for the Greco-Roman world, often in a heavily idealized form. As the poet Edgar Allan Poe put it, artists celebrated the “glory that was Greece” and the “grandeur that was Rome.” Indeed, classicism refers to an artistic canon of widely accepted “ideal forms” and their revival in Western art. 

Emerging during the 17th century, Classicism was particularly prevalent during the intellectual movement known as the Age of Enlightenment in Europe, also referred to as the "Age of Reason."

These developments started in the 18th century and continued into the early 19th century. The movement eventually gave rise to more modern approaches, including Impressionism and Expressionism.

What are the Five Characteristics of Classic Art?

In its simplest form, Classicism refers to a philosophical and aesthetic outlook inspired by the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. While this applies to a wide variety of paintings, architecture, and literature, it resulted in five essential characteristics:

1. Restrained simplicity in color and form
2. Muted or calm emotions and “ideal” bodies
3. Strict proportions and perspectives
4. An intellectual approach to art and architecture
5. Clear compositions and narratives

Speaking of the Discobolus, an iconic Greek sculpture depicting a male athlete throwing a discus, the art historian Kenneth Clark remarked how its “restraint and compression” is fundamental to its appeal. He described how violent emotion or rhythmic motion would destroy the principles of “balance and completeness.” Only through these qualities, Clark argued, that classical art paintings kept their position of authority through the centuries.

What Defines Classical Paintings?

What exactly makes a classic painting is not easy to define. Indeed, art historians vigorously debate the differences between movements such as Classicism, Neo-classicism, and the Academic Art Movement.

While many famous Renaissance artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Titian, focused on Greco-Roman mythology, their works are not typically described as “classical.” Instead, Renaissance oil paintings developed in the 16th and 17th centuries when paintings became more formally classical.

This involved emphasizing structure, order, geometry, and the use of grids in the painting process. A new generation of rigorously disciplined painters stuck to the strict teaching of Europe’s prestigious art academies. The French King Louis XIV’s court was the center of this European classicism. Indeed, the grandeur of Versailles launched some of the finest painters of the era.

However, exploring some of the most famous classical paintings is worthwhile to gain a better understanding of what makes classic art paintings

What is a Classical Painting?

Here are five leading classical painters and their famous oil paintings:

1. Nicolas Poussin 1594-1665

Nicolas Poussin created some of the most famous classical paintings of all time. He grew up in France but spent most of his working life in Rome. Most Nicolas Poussin paintings focus on religious and mythological narratives that patrons often commissioned for private use.

One of Poussin’s most celebrated works is Et in Arcadia Ego, also known as The Arcadian Shepherds. This oil painting features four individuals standing around an austere tomb in a heavily stylized pastoral scene. It serves as a “memento mori” to the viewer that death remains even in the idyllic Arcadia.

As the founding father of classicism, Poussin inspired many subsequent famous artists. These include Jacques-Louis David, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, and the post-impressionist Paul Cézanne.

2. Claude Lorrain 1600-1682

A contemporary of Nicolas Poussin, Claude Lorrain is another leading French classical and baroque painter. He also spent a significant portion of his working life in Italy, reflecting the commercial importance of Rome at the time.

Unlike Nicolas Poussin’s strictly mythological paintings, Lorrain is notable for focusing on landscape art. This was incredibly unusual at a time when the more prestigious genre of history painting usually took precedence.

Lorrain’s landscapes often contained small figures, adding extra meaning to his paintings. For instance, Sunrise and View of Delphi with a Procession transform rural views into moralizing, allegorical works.

3. Alexandre Cabanel 1823-1889

As a famous artist working in 19th century France, Alexandre Cabanel drew heavily on the oil paintings of Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin. Well-known as a portrait painter, Cabanel served as Napoleon III’s preferred artist. Dedicated to the Classical art movement, Cabanel produced many L’art Pompier oil paintings. Originating in the late 19th century, this initially derisive term refers to large “official” academic canvases.

While Cabanel produced several large historical works of art, The Birth of Venus is one of the world's most famous nude paintings. The Paris Salon exhibited it, and Napoleon III immediately purchased it for his private collection.

Indeed, the painting’s sexuality and classical imagery are incredibly appealing. As one art critic said, Cabanel’s Venus hovers halfway between “an ancient deity” and a “modern dream.”

The Impressionist artists reviled Alexandre Cabanel and viewed him as increasingly old-fashioned. Towards the end of his life, his classical art gradually fell out of favor.

4. William Adolphe Bouguereau 1825-1905

Like Alexandre Cabanel’s painting of Venus, Bouguereau is known for his classic nude art. William Adolphe Bouguereau created his own La Naissance de Venus in 1879, showing Venus rising from a seashell. Dolphins, fifteen putti, cherubs, nymphs, and centaurs surround her. Bouguereau frequently painted mythological subjects, often focusing on the nude female form.

William Adolphe Bouguereau's paintings proved popular in France and the United States. Bouguereau was a famed Salon des Independents artist of the highest quality.

5. Pierre Auguste Cot, 1837-1883

As the last painter on this list, Pierre Auguste Renoir produced some stunning, famous oil paintings. He excelled in realistic portraiture paintings and studied under both Alexandre Cabanel and William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

Pierre Cot’s Salon debut came in 1863, and his popularity and prestige grew from that moment onwards. His famous painting The Storm depicts a romantic couple in an idealized landscape. Most usually wearing a classical dress, Cot’s carefully observed figures represent the pinnacle of youthful beauty and love. As some of our most popular replica oil paintings, his reputation remains today.

Who are the lesser-known Classical painters?

In addition to well-known French masters such as Poussin, Lorrain, and Cabanel, several other renowned Classical painters existed. This included artists such as Pierre Subleyras and Guillaume Seignac. While the movement influenced many artists worldwide, it was particularly prevalent in the UK.

Here, painters such as William Clarke Wontner are portrait artists steeped in the Romanticism art movement and Classicism. John William Godward was a neo-classical protégé of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, maintaining the movement’s beautifully constructed compositions and astounding skill.

Later artists, such as Frederic Leighton, were also heavily influenced by the Greek and Roman world, as seen in his celebrated Flaming June oil painting.

Classic Art Oil Paintings: Fine Art Reproductions

If you love the serene beauty of Cassical art, explore our extensive collection of the most famous oil paintings and popular artists. Enjoy classic nude paintings by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, the thrilling landscapes of Claude Lorrain, and the mythological paintings of Nicolas Poussin. 

Buy fine art reproductions to bring classic decor the walls of your home or office.