Classicism refers to a principle in art and philosophy that holds the aesthetics of ancient Greece and Rome in high regard, treating them as a standard of excellence. As a stylistic approach, it emphasizes the ideals of order, harmony, balance, and restraint. It is not a single art movement but rather a recurring tradition in Western culture that has manifested in different eras, most notably during the Italian Renaissance and again with Neoclassicism in the 18th century. Classicism generally stands in opposition to more emotional or ornate styles, such as the dramatic style of the Baroque or the playful excess of the Rococo .

The art of classicism seeks to be formal and idealized, often drawing its subject matter from Greco-Roman mythology and history. In sculpture and painting, figures are depicted with anatomical accuracy yet are idealized to represent a perfected human form, conveying a sense of calm grandeur and emotional control. In architecture, classicism adheres to the principles of Greek and Roman design, such as symmetry and the use of the classical orders.

In modern discourse, the aesthetic of classicism has sometimes been used in political contexts to construct a simplified and ahistorical concept of "Western culture." By selectively drawing from Greco-Roman sources, some groups have used classical imagery to promote a monolithic and exclusionary cultural narrative. It is important to distinguish this specific politicization from the broader historical and artistic study of Classicism itself.

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Renaissance art was primarily produced in Italy; in particular, the cities of Florence, Venice, and Rome. This movement lasted from roughly 1300-1600, though it wasn’t quite a distinct art style until the late 1400s. Secularism and an interest in the Classical past were highly influential to this art style. Renaissance art is characterized by symmetry, a linear perspective (which better represented the world), the use of space, accurate depiction of detail (naturalism), and the effect of light.

Neoclassicism was a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassical art was traditional and new, historical and modern, conservative and progressive all at the same time.

While followers of the aesthetic tend to prize white marble, which influenced the Renaissance to Neoclassical movements, scientific analysis and primary sources of the time revealed that the Greeks and Romans actually painted their sculptures, often in colors that modern viewers would find unappealing. Despite this new information, fans of the classical aesthetic do not include painted marble in their photographs or moodboards, and instead focus more on works from the later artistic movements.