Enlightenment Synthesis

The vestiges of the renaissance artists’ dependence upon the sponsorship of the power elite compromised the Enlightenment artists’ freedom of expression and frustrated forward thinking artists such as Moliere.

Voltaire, often considered the father of the Enlightenment, stressed the separation of the church and state believing that the Christian religion immoral. He further believed that one’s personal principles were a better measure of ones artistic value than acceptance by the upper class. However, in order to survive as an artist he “play[ed] the patronage game.” (Stanford )

Jean-Germain Drouais painted with “heroic antiquity” in mind, the simpler view of life of virtues. (Painting) His painting, “Jesus Driving the Merchants out of the Temple” stressed the separation of money and church and purification.

Pierre Corneille, a French dramatist, created characters whose personal choices conflicted with that of society’s. In “Le Cid” his main character is put into a clearly defined society and because of his personal choice he does not belong. In this play, honor wins and love is not of importance but, in the end, moral growth is achieved and honored instead of the whims of society. (Biography)

The artists, writers, and philosophers of the Enlightenment criticized the society’s shallow, meaningless ways and the consequential loss of personal expression. As a result, the era produced many works of societal criticism.