The scientific discovery in the 1700’s helped shaped the arts of the time in a significant way. The discovery of physics, the Encyclopedia, and Pompeii helped made the transition of art from the Baroque era to the classical era or age of enlightenment. These discoveries listed above enforced the idea’s of rational thought and enlightened thinking to be used in the arts of the time. This was a time where knowledge was power. The Encyclopedia was created by Denis Diderot (1713-1784) and had 28 volumes all with human knowledge and thousands of illustrations helped the middle class gain power. (1). Physics was founded by Newton and also showed people that mathematics played a big role in the world around us which, also gave more power to the people. Lastly, the discovery of Pompeii gave inspiration to the arts because the people were moved by the Ancient Greeks and thus had the style of Greeks in the arts of the Classical era.(1) The discovery of Pompeii was a truly magnificent for the archeologist of the time in the late 1600’s because it was a popular port for the Ancient Romans.(3)
The art above was created by Jacques-Louis David, The Oath of the Horatii. This painting was painted in Rome, commissioned by Louis XVI and exhibited in the salon of 1785.(2) . The painting shows how the scientific discoveries played a major role to influence the painting. The discovery of Pompeii plays a major influence on this magnificent art piece. The three brothers are in the clothing style of the Greeks. They are also showing the ideas of the Greeks through rationalism and heroism by giving up their swords to the father and swearing to fight in the revolution till death.(2).
Charles Willson Peale, Staircase Group (Portrait of Raphaelle Peale and Titian Ramsay Peale), 1795. (4). This painting is very significant to the influences scientific discoveries of the time because it is made for the first scientific museum in America. Also instead of painting aristocrats of the time Peale decided to paint his two sons who are actually named after famous scientists of the time. (4). This painting shows how the knowledge gained by the middle classes affected the arts. Instead famous artists are more willing to paint the middle class because of the new profound power they were gaining due to the knowledge that was accessible to them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ODfuMMyss – Link
The Magic Flute was is an opera by Mozart Wolfgang who premiered this in 1791, at the Schikaneder’s theater.(5). I picked this opera out mainly because the vocals by the Queen is impeccable. Then as I did my research about the opera I found that the story itself portrays the education of mankind, progressing from chaos through religious superstition to rationalistic enlightenment. (5). This ties into the discovery of the sciences. People pulled away from religious superstition to a more rational way of thinking due to the creation of physics and the knowledge that was spread by the Encyclopedia.
Sources:
1) “Art Music Theater F200.” Art Music Theater F200 RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. – Link
2) “David’s Oath of the Horatii.” – Smarthistory. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. – Link
3) http://home.comcast.net/~apollophotos/photos/italy/pompeii/ – Link
4) “Peale’s Staircase Group (Portrait of Raphaelle Peale and Titian Ramsay Peale).” – Smarthistory. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. – Link
5) “The Magic Flute.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Oct. 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. – Link
satemple 
Great Job. you stated the artwork, artist, and year very clearly which helped me stay focused in the blog. It is interesting that you found an opera about human progression.
Really nice job on this post, it’s very clear and explains your topic well. I liked how you explained the science side of things for ever picture and made it easy for the reader to understand. It shows good understanding of the topic!