Final answer:
The French Revolution marked the beginning of Romanticism and the end of Neo-Classicism. It brought forth a new artistic era that emphasized heroic individualism, the imagination, and emotions, challenging the rigid doctrines of the Age of Enlightenment and Neoclassicism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The historical event in France that marked the beginning of Romanticism and the end of Neo-Classicism was the French Revolution (A). The French Revolution, occurring from 1789 to 1799, catalyzed Romanticism as it was a reaction against the aristocratic social and political norms as well as the scientific rationalization of nature that characterized the Age of Enlightenment. This movement elevated the achievements of heroic individualists and artists, and it validated the individual imagination as a critical authority, freeing artists from classical constraints.
Romanticism, as an artistic movement, began in France and England before spreading to other regions. It emphasized the dramatic and unpredictable aspects of nature and the human condition. Distinct from the prior emphasis on perfect, posed images, Romantic artists depicted humans in varied states and landscapes with dynamic brushstrokes to convey strong emotions. Bold color use became integral to portraying these emotions and differentiating from the controlled classicism that preceded it.
While Romanticism’s arrival in French art was initially delayed by the strong grip of Neoclassicism on the academies, it gained popularity especially during the Napoleonic period, with the era's conflict and social change forming a backdrop to the Romantic ethos. The generation of French Romantics born around 1795-1805 came into a world shaped by battles and revolutions, influencing their artistic sensibilities toward the ideals of Romanticism.