The Age of Romanticism
Romanticism (also known as the Romantic era) is a state of being romantic or affectionate in a sentimental way. It was also an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate period from 1800 to 1850. This movement emphasized nature, imagination, emotion and the individual.
Painting Vs Photography
Roger Fenton, inspired by nature and romanticism revisited a spot in Wales where previously the painter Samuel Palmer had been inspired by the natural beauty of this river valley. The images are very similar as they both have the river flowing through the middle and the tall trees surrounding it.
Roger Fenton c. 1852-62 
Samuel Palmer c. 1840-45
The Age of Enlightenment (1685-1815)
The Enlightenment , also known as the Great ‘Age of Reason’, is the time period in the 17th/18th century Europe. During this period, people started questioning the church and started being more interested in science. It was an intellectual movement whose three central concepts were the use of reason, the scientific method, and progress.
The Sublime
Edmund Burke created the Sublime Theory in the mid-18th century, defining Sublime art as “art that alludes to a magnificence beyond all capacity of measurement, assessment, or reproduction.” He described the Sublime as an aesthetic impact that produces the most powerful sensation the intellect is aware of experiencing.