18th- and 19th-century Europe were captivated by two competing artistic movements: Neoclassicism and Romanticism. Neoclassic art inspired by the ancient world was undeniably en vogue for the majority of the 18th century, dominating every salon and private home throughout Europe. At the close of the century, Neoclassicism was met with a reactionary artistic movement: Romanticism.…
For most young men, the Grand Tour, a hallmark coming-of-age trip through France and Italy, was a folly, but for others it was a completely different experience. With the ever-popular Neoclassical movement continuing to take hold in Europe, artists like Benjamin West saw the Grand Tour as an opportunity for inspiration. Take a grand tour through the art and culture of this era and see how the classical past came alive again in 18th-century Britain and France.
Experience the culture, art, and fashion of this sumptuous era as you take a journey on both sides of the Atlantic — from the castles and manors of landed lords in England to the estates and mansions of wealthy tycoons in America — to see how the “other half” lived.
