In the last two decades of the eighteenth century and the first three of the nineteenth century, a new aesthetic trend prevailed in the creations of European artists. It is neoclassicism (neo = new), which expressed the values ​​of a new and fortified the bourgeoisie, which took over the leadership of the European Society after the French Revolution and especially with the Napoleonic Empire.

In the words of Edgar Allan Poe "the glory that was Greece, and the greatness that was Rome."

This the revival of the austere Classicism in painting, sculpture, architecture and furniture was a clear reaction against the rococo ornamentation.

The eighteenth-century had been the Age of Enlightenment when philosophers preached the gospel of reason and logic. This faith in logic led to the "ennobling" order and virtues of neoclassical art.

The initiator of the trend was Jacques-Louis David, a French painter, and democrat who imitated Greek and Roman art to inspire the new French republic. “Politically correct” art was serious, illustrating themes of ancient history or mythology rather than rococo frivolity.

The neoclassical style is characterized by precise, severe figures without depth, polished brushstrokes, and simple compositions that avoid rococo excess. Influenced by ancient Roman architecture, it favored symmetry, straight lines, and elements like arches and columns. This style, which emerged in the late 18th to early 19th century, reflected the values of a rising bourgeoisie following the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Empire. Key traits include a return to Greco-Latin models, adherence to academic standards, and an emphasis on nature's simplicity and nobility. Jacques-Louis David was a prominent figure promoting this serious art that focused on historical and mythological themes, positioning itself against the excessive ornamentation of the rococo era.