Neoclassicism

Neoclassicism was a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theater, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Neoclassical age began during the rediscovery of the cities of Pompey and Herculaneum, both of which were buried under volcanic ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. As a generation of European art students finished their grand tour of Europe, with Italy being their prime destination, they returned to their home countries with newly discovered Greco-Roman ideals.