The Purity of Neoclassicism

Visually and artistically, the Napoleonic period is characterized by neoclassicism, which inspires with concurrent visions of rebirth and freshness. As the Wikipedia entry explains: "In the visual arts the European movement called 'neoclassicism' began after A.D. 1765, as a reaction against both the surviving Baroque and Rococo styles, and as a desire to return to the perceived 'purity' of the arts of Rome, the more vague perception ('ideal') of Ancient Greek arts (where almost no western artist had actually been) and, to a lesser extent, 16th century Renaissance Classicism."

As I experience it, Neoclassicism is like the sun on clear day, and I think that Sienkiewicz, in proceeding with THE LEGIONS, carried within him not only the inspiration of a potent nationalistic message he wished to amplify, but the bright sunny vision of another time that blossomed with political and artistic changes--and hope. It is no surprise that the Neoclassic Movement was followed by the Romantic Movement. Sienkiewicz, writing at the time into the 20th century, was one of the last literary voices of Romancism, and was returning to Romanticism's childhood--Neoclassicism. His journey can be likened to a man of elderly years who with ever increasing frequency thinks back of the days when he was young and the world was filled with sun and joy and adventure and promise.

It is a shame, of course, that Sienkiewicz never finished THE LEGIONS, but we have his precious words and the new breath of his vision before us, and our own visions and sense of aliveness take us from there.