A Preliminary Study Of The Neoclassical Elements In Wedgwood Ceramics

Ancient Greece is the cradle of European civilization.Ancient Greece created a splendid civilization.After its demise,their civilization was inherited by ancient Rome,becoming the spiritual source of the whole western civilization.In the middle of the18 th century,under the influence of Enlightenment,the neoclassical movement emerged.Wedgwood developed neoclassical ceramics products actively,which contributed to the most glorious chapter in the history of Wedgwood ceramics.This paper takes the neoclassicism in Wedgwood ceramics as the research object,and interprets Wedgwood’s academic approach to neoclassicism,the art form of integration,and the innovative cases,and analyzes the best effect of Wedgwood’s inheritance,absorption and innovation of classical culture,and finally the formation of pluralism,inclusiveness and symbiosis.We should grasp the historical root of the successful development of Wedgwood ceramics neoclassicism and draw lessons from the successful historical experience of Wedgwood ceramics.In the face of the "great changes unseen in a century" in the world,we should carry forward historical classics and engage in exchanges and communication with diverse cultures.This will not only promote the innovative development of Chinese ceramics,but also contribute to peopleto-people connectivity and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.The introduction part introduces the purpose and significance of this research,domestic and foreign relevant research status,research ideas and methods.The first chapter discusses the background of the birth of Wedgwood’s ceramic neoclassicism.Until the 5th century AD,the classical world of ancient Greece and Rome flourished for more than a thousand years,and the civilization of ancient Greece and Rome was considered to be perfect.The ancient Greek and Roman period was a golden age,which was regarded by people of different eras as a model to be emulated to enlighten thought,culture and art.The original impetus of neoclassicism came from continental Europe,and Britain was on the cusp of the Enlightenment.Influenced by the rationalism of the Enlightenment,people criticized the destructiveness of the Baroque and Rococo,which had strong emotions and were complex and gorgeous,and quickly returned to the idealized beauty of ancient times.In the middle of the 18 th century,the Neoclassicism movement emerged.The second chapter discusses the academic path of Wedgwood ceramics accepting neoclassicism.New archaeological discoveries at Herculaneum and Pompeii in Italy promoted the Grand Tour.The antiquarian movement and the publication of classical books that dominated European taste in the second half of the 18 th century.Winckelmann’s treatises on ancient Greek art and his book The History of Art in Antiquity make the idealized beauty of ancient Greece the fundamental basis for returning to classicism.Many books by architects,scholars and antiquarians were also published in the 18 th century,and Wedgwood and Bentley kept special libraries for all kinds of classical works published at that time.These books inspired Wedgwood’s creation.Josiah Wedgwood was involved in the neoclassical movement and the Enlightenment movement actively,joined the Lunar Society and the Royal Society,participated in the exploration of natural science,and was deeply influenced by Erasmus Darwin.The third chapter discusses the historical forms of the fusion of Wedgwood ceramics neoclassicism.From architecture to interior decoration to household appliances,classical style is clearly integrated into every element of design for the first time.Josiah Wedgwood quickly recognized the commercial potential of incorporating this style into his designs and began producing a line of neoclassical products.Wedgwood consulted with architects William Chambers and James Stuart to produce ceramic plaques and bas-relieves for the building.John Flaxman Jr helped design Wedgwood’s models for many of the interiors.Wedgwood shared his experience with the manufacturer Matthew Boulton and worked with Robert Adam to blend his creations.Wedgwood also learned from painting and sculpture,making busts and medallions.The fourth chapter is a case study of Wedgwood ceramics neoclassical innovation.Wedgwood innovated ceramic materials such as black basalt stoneware and jasperware,decorated with bas-relieves carved from wax molds,and produced a wide range of neoclassical architectural plaques,relieves,vases,teapots and other interiors,sometimes complemented by agate,to suit neoclassical architecture and gardens.Classic cases include The First Day’s Vases,Portland Vase and so on.His creative themes cover the gods and heroes of classical mythology,contemporary historical events and scenes of daily life,and he has produced Apotheosis of Homer,Mercury uniting the Hands of Britain and France,Anti-slavery Medallion and so on.He also hired many talented artists to create for him,and obtained various design.The fifth chapter evaluates the Wedgwood neoclassical ceramics.In the second half of the 18 th century,Wedgwood neoclassical ceramics became the most glorious chapter in the development history of Wedgwood ceramics.Based on the theoretical principles of archaeology,antiquarianism and art history,Wedgwood inherits the classics,carries forward the innovation,takes the neoclassicism as the leading role,the multicultural tolerance co-existence.Wedgwood’s products met a great deal of market demand with the technological help of the industrial revolution and he achieved extraordinary success.Portland Vase was recreated in various forms by the Wedgwood Company during the 19 th century,and it became the company’s symbol to this day.In the mid and late 19 th century,Wedgwood neoclassical ceramics was in crisis.Minton ceramics with highly decorative and French flavor,catering to the aesthetics of the Victorian era,shone on the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations in London,and troubled Wedgwood ceramics development.In the 1940 s,with the construction of modern new factories,a large number of modernist designs emerged during this period,and Wedgwood entered a period of great development again.The epilogue.In the second half of the 18 th century,the innovations of Josiah Wedgwood’s period ranged from material craftsmanship to content and form.His neoclassical ceramics can gain worldwide recognition,because its formation has solid academic ideas about archaeology,antiquarianism and art history foundation support.Wedgwood draw nutrition from the contemporary architectural design,interior decoration,painting and sculpture actively.Josiah’s spirit of scientific experimentation and the intellectual talent of his collaborators were integrated into the construction of neoclassical products.Under the support of scientific and technological progress and division of labor of the industrial revolution,Wedgwood not only cater to even led to the British society and the whole European ceramic neoclassical taste.Wedgwood brought ceramic decor from women’s spaces to public spaces such as the main hall of the house,municipal buildings,or men’s spaces.The royal portraits and the Anti-slavery Medallion also played a unique social function of national memory.This provides a reference for the inheritance and innovation of China’s ceramic culture and has practical significance.