Classicism (from Latin classicus - exemplary) is the artistic style of European art of the 17th-19th centuries, one of the most important features of which was the appeal to ancient art as the highest model and reliance on the traditions of the high Renaissance. The art of classicism reflected the ideas of the harmonious structure of society, but in many respects lost them in comparison with the culture of the Renaissance. The conflicts of the individual and society, ideal and reality, feelings and reason testify to the complexity of the art of classicism. The artistic forms of classicism are characterized by strict organization, balance, clarity and harmony of images.

Classicism is associated with the Enlightenment, based on the ideas of philosophical rationalism, on ideas about the rational laws of the world. According to the lofty ethical ideas, the educational program of art, the aesthetics of classicism established a hierarchy of genres - “high” (tragedy, epic, ode, history, mythology, religious painting, etc.) and “low” (comedy, satire, fable, genre painting, etc.). etc.). In literature (the tragedies of P. Corneille, J. Racine, Voltaire, the comedies of Moliere, the poem "The Art of Poetry" and the satires of N. Boileau, the fables of J. La Fontaine, the prose of F. La Rochefoucauld, J. La Bruyère in France, the work of the Weimar period of I.V. Goethe and F. Schiller in Germany, the odes of M. V. Lomonosov and G. R. Derzhavin, the tragedies of A. P. Sumarokov and Ya. B. Knyazhnin in Russia), the leading role is played by significant ethical collisions, normative typified images. For theatrical art (Mondori, Duparc, M. Chanmelet, A.L. Leken, F.J. Talma, Rachel in France, F.K. Neuber in Germany, F.G. Volkov, I.A. Dmitrevsky in Russia) the solemn, static structure of the performances, the measured reading of poetry are characteristic.

The main features of Russian classicism: an appeal to the images and forms of ancient art; the characters are clearly divided into positive and negative; the plot is usually based on a love triangle: the heroine is the hero-lover, the second lover; at the end of the classical comedy, vice is always punished, and good triumphs; the principle of three unities: time (the action lasts no more than a day), place, action. For example, Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" can be cited. In this comedy, Fonvizin tries to implement the main idea of ​​classicism - to re-educate the world with a reasonable word. Positive characters talk a lot about morality, life at court, the duty of a nobleman. Negative characters become an illustration of inappropriate behavior. Behind the clash of personal interests, the social positions of the heroes are visible.

Classicism is based on the ideas of rationalism, coming from the philosophy of Descartes. A work of art, from the point of view of classicism, should be built on the basis of strict canons, thereby revealing the harmony and logic of the universe itself. Interest for classicism is only eternal, unchanging - in each phenomenon, he seeks to recognize only essential, typological features, discarding random individual signs. The aesthetics of classicism attaches great importance to the social and educational function of art. Classicism takes many rules and canons from ancient art (Aristotle, Horace).

New Russian literature takes a big step forward in the 30-50s of the 18th century. This is due to the active work of the first major writers - representatives of the new Russian literature: A. D. Kantemir (1708–1744), V. K. Trediakovsky (1703–1769), A. P. Sumarokov (1717–1777) and especially the brilliant figure of Russian science and culture Lomonosov. These four writers belonged to different strata of society (Kantemir and Sumarokov - to the noble elite, Trediakovsky was a native of the clergy, Lomonosov - the son of a peasant). But all of them fought against the supporters of pre-Petrine antiquity, stood up for the further development of education, science, and culture. In the spirit of the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment (as the 18th century is usually called), they were all supporters of the so-called enlightened absolutism: they believed that progressive historical development could be carried out by the bearer of supreme power - the king. And as an example of this, they set the activity of Peter I. Lomonosov in his laudatory poems - odes (from the Greek word meaning "song"), addressed to the kings and queens, gave them, drawing the ideal image of an enlightened monarch, a kind of lesson, urged them to follow the paths of Peter . Cantemir in accusatory poems - satires - sharply ridiculed adherents of antiquity, enemies of education, science. He scourged the ignorant and mercenary clergy, boyar sons, proud of the antiquity of their kind and having no merit to the fatherland, arrogant nobles, greedy merchants, bribe-taking officials. Sumarokov attacked the despot-kings in tragedies, opposing them with the ideal bearers of royal power. "Evil kings" were angrily denounced in the poem "Tilemakhida" by Trediakovsky. Progressive ideas, which to a greater or lesser extent imbued the activities of Kantemir, Trediakovsky, Lomonosov, Sumarokov, significantly increase the social weight and significance of the new Russian literature they create. From now on, literature is moving to the forefront of social development, becoming, in its best manifestations, an educator of society. It was from that time that works of fiction systematically appeared in print, attracting the sympathetic attention of an ever wider circle of readers.

New forms are created for new content. Through the efforts of Kantemir, Trediakovsky, Lomonosov and Sumarokov, in accordance with the development of advanced European literatures, the first major literary trend, which became dominant throughout almost the entire 18th century, was formed - Russian classicism.

The founders and followers of classicism considered the main purpose of literature to serve the “benefit of society”. State interests, duty to the fatherland, should, according to their concepts, unconditionally prevail over private, personal interests. In contrast to the religious, medieval worldview, they considered the highest in a person to be his mind, the laws of which artistic creativity should also fully obey. They considered the most perfect, classical (hence the name and the whole direction) examples of beauty to be the wonderful creations of ancient, that is, ancient Greek and Roman art, which grew on the basis of the religious ideas of that time, but in the mythological images of gods and heroes essentially glorified beauty, strength and prowess of man. All this constituted the strengths of classicism, but they also contained its weakness, limitations.

The exaltation of the mind was due to the belittling of feelings, direct perception of the surrounding reality. This often gave the literature of classicism a rational character. Creating a work of art, the writer tried in every possible way to get closer to antique samples and strictly follow the rules specially developed for this by the theoreticians of classicism. This hampered the freedom of creativity. And the obligatory imitation of the creations of ancient art, no matter how perfect they were, inevitably separated literature from life, the writer from his modernity, and thus gave his work a conditional, artificial character. The most important thing is that the socio-political system of the era of classicism, based on the oppression of the people, in no way corresponded to reasonable concepts of natural, normal relations between people. Such a discrepancy made itself felt especially sharply in autocratic-feudal Russia of the 18th century, where instead of enlightened absolutism, the most unrestrained despotism reigned. Therefore, it was in Russian classicism, which was not accidentally started by the satyrs of Cantemir, that accusatory, critical themes and motives began to develop intensively.

This was especially pronounced in the last third of the 18th century. - a time of further strengthening of feudal oppression and the tyrannical dictatorship of the feudal nobility, headed by Empress Catherine II.

A critical attitude towards lack of rights, arbitrariness and violence corresponded to the moods and interests of broad sections of Russian society. The social role of literature is increasingly increasing. The last third of the century is the most flourishing period in the development of Russian literature of the 18th century. If in the 1930s and 1950s writers could be counted on the fingers, now there are dozens of new writers' names. Writers-nobles occupy a predominant place. But there are also many writers from the lower classes, even from among the serfs. Empress Catherine II herself felt the increased importance of literature. She began to be very actively engaged in writing, trying in such ways to win over public opinion, to manage the further development of literature herself. However, she failed. A few and for the most part insignificant authors took her side. Almost all the major writers, figures of Russian education - N. I. Novikov, D. I. Fonvizin, young I. A. Krylov, A. N. Radishchev, the author of the comedy "Yabeda" V. V. Kapnist and many others - entered in a bold and energetic struggle against the reactionary literary camp of Catherine and her lackeys. This fight was fought in very difficult conditions. The works of writers objectionable to the queen were banned by censorship, and sometimes they were publicly burned by the "hand of the executioner"; their authors were severely persecuted, imprisoned, sentenced to death, exiled to Siberia. But, despite this, the advanced ideas that filled their work more and more penetrated the consciousness of society.

Literature itself is remarkably enriched thanks to the activity of progressive writers, for the most part. New literary genera and types are being created. In the previous period, literary works were written almost exclusively in verse. Now the first examples of artistic prose are emerging. Dramaturgy is developing rapidly. The development of satirical genres (types) acquires a particularly wide scope: satires are intensively written not only in verse, but also in prose, satirical fables, the so-called iroikomic, parodic poems, satirical comedies, comic operas, etc. In the work of the largest poet of the 18th century . Derzhavin's satirical principle penetrates even into a laudatory, solemn ode.

18th century satirists still follow the rules of classicism. But at the same time, pictures and images of real life are increasingly reflected in their work. They are no longer conditionally abstract in nature, as in the so-called high genres of classicism (odes, tragedies), but are directly taken from contemporary Russian reality. The works of critical writers - Novikov, Fonvizin, Radishchev - were direct predecessors of the work of the founders of Russian critical realism of the 19th century. - Pushkin, Gogol.

18th century satire still limited politically. Sharply denouncing the malevolent landowners who brutally treat their peasants, the satirists did not oppose the savagery and absurdity of the right of some people to own other people as their working cattle. Scourging the arbitrariness, violence, bribery, injustice that reigned in the country, the satirists did not connect them with the autocratic-feudal system that gave rise to all this. In the words of the remarkable Russian critic Dobrolyubov, they condemned "abuses of what in our concepts is already evil in itself." For the first time, the first Russian revolutionary writer Radishchev attacked indignantly not only individual abuses, but all the evils of autocracy and serfdom as a whole.

The main features of Russian classicism

Appeal to the images and forms of ancient art.

Heroes are clearly divided into positive and negative, have speaking names.

The plot is based, as a rule, on a love triangle: the heroine is the hero-lover, the second lover (unsuccessful).

At the end of a classic comedy, vice is always punished and good triumphs.

The principle of three unities: time (the action lasts no more than a day), place (the action takes place in one place), action (1 storyline).

Start

The first classicist writer in Russia was Antioch Kantemir. He was the first to write works of the classic genre (namely, satires, epigrams, and others).

The history of the emergence of Russian classicism according to V.I. Fedorov:

1st period: literature of the time of Peter the Great; it is of a transitional nature; the main feature - an intensive process of "secularization" (that is, the replacement of religious literature with secular literature - 1689-1725) - the prerequisites for the emergence of classicism.

Period 2: 1730-1750 - these years are characterized by the formation of classicism, the creation of a new genre system, and the in-depth development of the Russian language.

3rd period: 1760-1770 - the further evolution of classicism, the flowering of satire, the emergence of prerequisites for the emergence of sentimentalism.

4 period: the last quarter of a century - the beginning of the crisis of classicism, the design of sentimentalism, the strengthening of realistic tendencies (1. Direction, development, inclination, aspiration; 2. Idea, idea of ​​presentation, image).

Trediakovsky and Lomonosov

Classicism received the next round of development in Russia under Trediakovsky and Lomonosov. They created the Russian syllabo-tonic system of versification and introduced many Western genres (such as madrigal, sonnet, etc.). The syllabo-tonic system of versification is a system of syllable-stressed versification. It includes two rhythm-forming factors - syllable and stress - and implies a regular alternation of text fragments with an equal number of syllables, among which stressed syllables alternate in a certain regular way with unstressed ones. It is within the framework of this system that most of the Russian poetry was written.

Derzhavin

Derzhavin develops the traditions of Russian classicism, continuing the traditions of Lomonosov and Sumarokov.

For him, the purpose of the poet is the glorification of great deeds and the condemnation of bad ones. In the ode "Felitsa" he glorifies the enlightened monarchy, which personifies the reign of Catherine II. The smart, fair empress is opposed to the greedy and mercenary nobles of the court: You only don’t offend, You don’t offend anyone, You see foolishness through your fingers, Only you don’t tolerate evil alone ...

The main object of Derzhavin's poetics is a person as a unique individuality in all the richness of personal tastes and predilections. Many of his odes are philosophical in nature, they discuss the place and purpose of man on earth, the problems of life and death: I am the connection of the worlds that exist everywhere, I am the extreme degree of matter; I am the center of the living, The trait of the initial deity; I decay in the dust with my body, I command thunder with my mind, I am a king - I am a slave - I am a worm - I am a god! But, being so wonderful, Where did I come from? - unknown: I couldn't be myself. Ode "God", (1784)

Derzhavin creates a number of samples of lyrical poems in which the philosophical intensity of his odes is combined with an emotional attitude to the events described. In the poem "Snigir" (1800), Derzhavin mourns the death of Suvorov: Why are you starting a song like a military flute, like a sweet snigir? With whom shall we go to war against the Hyena? Who is our leader now? Who is the rich man? Where is strong, brave, fast Suvorov? Severn thunders lie in a coffin.

Before his death, Derzhavin begins to write an ode to the RUIN OF HORROR, from which only the beginning has come down to us: The river of time in its aspiration Carries away all the deeds of people And drowns peoples, kingdoms and kings in the abyss of oblivion. And if anything remains Through the sounds of the lyre and the trumpet, Then eternity will be devoured by the mouth And the common fate will not go away!

The fall of classicism

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

See what "Classicism (Russian literature)" is in other dictionaries:

I. INTRODUCTION II. RUSSIAN ORAL POETRY A. Periodization of the history of oral poetry B. Development of ancient oral poetry 1. Ancient origins of oral poetry. Oral and poetic creativity of ancient Rus' from the 10th to the middle of the 16th century. 2. Oral poetry from the middle of the XVI to the end ... ... Literary Encyclopedia

RUSSIAN LITERATURE. 18th century literature- Last quarter of the 17th century. 1st quarter of the 18th century the transitional period that preceded the emergence of new Russian literature. Its beginning was marked by the active creative activity of Simeon of Polotsk and Karion Istomin, who left ... ...

Bolshoi Theater in Warsaw. Classicism (French classicisme, from Latin ... Wikipedia

Cast style developed in absolutist France of the 17th century. in the era of mercantilism and gained its distribution in the monarchical Europe of the XVII-XVIII centuries. Classicism takes shape as a style of the big bourgeoisie, in its upper strata associated with ... ... Literary Encyclopedia

The content and scope of the concept. Criticism of pre-Marxist and anti-Marxist views on L. The problem of the personal principle in L. The dependence of L. on the social “environment”. Criticism of a comparatively historical approach to L. Criticism of the formalistic interpretation of L. ... ... Literary Encyclopedia

CLASSICISM- (from Latin classicus exemplary), artistic style and aesthetic trend in European literature and art of the 17th beginning of the 19th centuries, one of the important features of which was the appeal to the images and forms of ancient literature and ... ... Literary Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (from lat. classicus exemplary) artistic style and aesthetic trend in European literature and art of the 17th and early 19th centuries, one of the important features of which was the appeal to the images and forms of ancient literature and art as ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

The fundamental property of Russian literature is that it is the literature of the Word. Words of the Logos. Its thousand-year history opens with the "Sermon on Law and Grace" by Metropolitan. Hilarion (XI century). Here the Old Testament "Law" (nationally limited, closed ... Russian history

Russian science and culture of the second half of the 18th century.- Development of science and technology. Education With the development of industry and trade in Russia, the need for scientific knowledge, technical improvements, and the study of natural resources increased. The state of trade, industry, roads ... ... The World History. Encyclopedia

Intercession Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral) (1555 61) A monument of Russian medieval architecture, adorns the main square of the Russian Federation, Red Square ... Wikipedia

Books

• Russian Literature: Theoretical and Historical Aspects, O. M. Kirillina. In this manual, Russian literature is presented as part of world culture. The book examines the processes in the history of European culture that have had a serious impact on the domestic…

Europe 17-19 centuries. This period showed the world many talented authors who made a significant contribution to the development of art: literature, painting, sculpture, music and architecture. For the first time, the tendencies of classicism appeared in France, when it resumed to ancient times and the ideals of that time.

Features of classicism

The main features of this trend originate in antiquity. The thinking of the authors was artistically directed and tended to a clear, holistic expression, as well as simplicity of visual means, balance and logic of statements. Therefore, we can say that the thinking of a person of the era of classicism is rationally idealized.

If we talk about the fact that classicism is related to antiquity, then it is important to note that their similarity consisted in the form, which, however, could not meet the standards that were accepted in classic art. What distinguishes it from others is, first of all, the respect for ancient values ​​​​and the ability to display even when they are irrelevant.

A characteristic feature of classicism is an ontological understanding of beauty. Here it is timeless, and therefore eternal, and also much attention is paid to the laws of harmony.

Psychologically, classicism is explained by the fact that in difficult historical periods, which are transitional and carry a lot of new things, a person tends to turn to what is unchanged: for example, to the past. In this he finds support: the ancient Greeks are an example of rationalism in thinking, they gave mankind complete ideas about space and time, and many other phenomena in life, and they did it in a simple and accessible form. Complex and ornate thoughts and the same design do not mean the clarity and concreteness that humanity needed in a rapidly changing world. Therefore, antiquity played an important role in the formation of classicism.

The ideas of classicism are romantic, so many are of the opinion that they are inseparable. And yet they have significant differences: romanticism is more divorced from reality in its ideals and ways of displaying them than classicism.

What is classicism? V. Tatarkevich tried to explain this with the help of several principles, which, in turn, were originally stated by the theorist L. B. Alberti:

1. Beauty is an objective property of real objects.
2. Beauty is order, correct composition, which is evaluated by the mind.
3. Since art uses science, then it must have a rational discipline.
4. An image created in the direction of classicism can be real, but depicted according to the model of antiquity.

What is classicism in painting

The main feature of this trend in artistic creativity is manifested in the attitude of the artist to the work: his feelings, expressed through painting, are also subject to logic.

Among the brightest representatives are the works of N. Prussen, who painted pictures with mythological themes. Particular attention in them is attracted by the exact geometric composition and thoughtful combination of colors. So is C. Lorrain: although the themes of his paintings differ from the works of N. Prussen (landscapes of the city's environs), the rationalism in execution is also sustained: he harmonized them with the help of the light of the setting sun.

What is classicism in sculpture and architecture

Since ancient works were used as a model in classicism, when sculpting, the authors faced a contradiction: in ancient Greece, models were depicted naked, but now it was immoral. Artists got out of the situation in a cunning way: they depicted real people in the form of ancient gods. During the reign of Napoleon, sculptors began to make models wearing togas.

Classicism in Russia originated much later, but, nevertheless, this did not prevent talented authors from appearing in this country who worked in accordance with his ideas: Boris Orlovsky, Fedot Shubin, Ivan Martos, Mikhail Kozlovsky.

In architecture, they also sought to recreate the forms inherent in antiquity. Simplicity, rigor, monumentality and logical clarity are the main features.

What is classicism in literature

The main achievement of classicism is that they were divided into hierarchical groups: among them were distinguished high (epic, tragedy, ode) and low (fable, comedy and satire).

In literature, a strict requirement was put forward for the observance of genre features in a work.

Time of occurrence.

In Europe- XVII-early XIX century

The end of the 17th century was a period of decline.

Classicism was revived during the Enlightenment - Voltaire, M. Chenier and others. After the French Revolution, with the collapse of rationalist ideas, classicism declined, and romanticism became the dominant style of European art.

In Russia- in the 2nd quarter of the 18th century.

Place of origin.

France. (P. Corneille, J. Racine, J. La Fontaine, J. B. Molière, etc.)

Representatives of Russian literature, works.

A. D. Kantemir (satire "On those who blaspheme the teaching", fables)

V.K. Trediakovsky (novel "Riding to the Island of Love", poems)

M. V. Lomonosov (poem "Conversation with Anacreon", "Ode on the day of accession to the throne of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, 1747"

A. P. Sumarokov, (tragedies "Khorev", "Sinav and Truvor")

Ya. B. Knyazhnin (tragedies "Dido", "Rosslav")

G. R. Derzhavin (ode "Felitsa")

representatives of world literature.

P. Corneille (tragedies "Sid", "Horace", "Cinna".

J. Racine (tragedies Phaedra, Mithridates)

Voltaire (tragedies Brutus, Tancred)

J.B. Molière (comedies "Tartuffe", "The tradesman in the nobility")

N. Boileau (treatise in verse "Poetic Art")

J. Lafontaine (fables).

Classicism from fr. classicisme, from lat. classicus - exemplary.

features of classicism.

• Purpose of art- moral influence on the upbringing of noble feelings.
• Reliance on ancient art(hence the name of the style), which was based on the principle of "imitation of nature".
• Based on the principle rationalism((from Latin "ratio" - mind), a view of a work of art as an artificial creation - consciously created, reasonably organized, logically constructed.
• Cult of the mind(belief in the omnipotence of reason and in the fact that the world can be rearranged on reasonable grounds).
• Headship public interest over private, the predominance of civil, patriotic motives, the cult of moral duty. Affirmation of positive values ​​and state ideal.
• Main conflict classic works - this is the struggle of the hero between mind and feeling. A positive hero must always make a choice in favor of reason (for example, choosing between love and the need to completely surrender to the service of the state, he must choose the latter), and a negative one - in favor of feelings.
• Personality is the highest value of being.
• Harmony content and form.
• Compliance with the rule in a dramatic work "three unities": unity of place, time, action.
• The division of heroes into positive and negative. The hero had to embody any one character trait: stinginess, hypocrisy, kindness, hypocrisy, etc.
• Strict hierarchy of genres, mixing of genres was not allowed:

"high"- epic poem, tragedy, ode;

"middle" - didactic poetry, epistole, satire, love poem;

"low"- fable, comedy, farce.

• The purity of the language (in high genres - high vocabulary, in low genres - vernacular);
• Simplicity, harmony, logical presentation.
• Interest in the eternal, unchanging, the desire to find typological features. Therefore, the images are devoid of individual features, since they are designed primarily to capture stable, generic, enduring signs over time.
• Socio-educational function of literature. Education of a harmonious personality.

Features of Russian classicism.

Russian literature mastered the style and genre forms of classicism, but it also had its own characteristics, distinguished by its originality.

• The state (and not the individual) was declared the highest value) in conjunction with belief in the theory of enlightened absolutism. According to the theory of enlightened absolutism, the state should be headed by a wise, enlightened monarch, who requires everyone to serve for the benefit of society.
• General patriotic pathos Russian classicism. Patriotism of Russian writers, their interest in the history of their homeland. All of them study Russian history, write works on national, historical themes.
• Humanity, since the direction was formed under the influence of the ideas of the Enlightenment.
• Human nature is selfish, subject to passions, that is, feelings that oppose reason, but at the same time education.
• Affirmation of the natural equality of all people.
• Main conflict between the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie.
• In the center of the works are not only the personal experiences of the characters, but also social problems.
• satirical focus- an important place is occupied by such genres as satire, fable, comedy, satirically depicting specific phenomena of Russian life;
• The predominance of national-historical themes over the antique. In Russia, “antiquity” was domestic history.
• High level of genre development odes(by M. V. Lomonosov and G. R. Derzhavin);
• The plot is based, as a rule, on a love triangle: the heroine is the hero-lover, the second lover.
• At the end of a classic comedy, vice is always punished and good triumphs.

Three periods of classicism in Russian literature.

1. 30-50s of the 18th century (the birth of classicism, the creation of literature, the national language, the flowering of the ode genre - M.V. Lomonosov, A.P. Sumarkov, etc.)
2. The 60s - the end of the 18th century (the main task of literature is the education of a person-citizen, the service of a person for the benefit of societies, the denunciation of the vices of people, the flowering of satire - N.R. Derzhavin, D.I. Fonviin).
3. The end of the XVIII-beginning of the XIX century (the gradual crisis of classicism, the emergence of sentimentalism, the strengthening of realistic tendencies, national motifs, the image of the ideal nobleman - N.R. Derzhavin, I.A. Krylov, etc.)

The material was prepared by: Melnikova Vera Alexandrovna.