Baroque, Dutch & French Art & Architecture Adapted from Susan Pojer at Historyteacher.net By Kathryn Raia at msraia.com
Baroque 1600 – 1750. From a Portuguese word “barocca”, meaning “a pearl of irregular shape.” Implies strangeness, irregularity, and extravagance. The more dramatic, the better!
Baroque Style of Art & Architecture Dramatic, emotional. Colors were brighter than bright; darks were darker than dark. Counter-Reformation art. Paintings & sculptures in church contexts should speak to the illiterate rather than to the well-informed. Ecclesiastical art --> appeal to emotions. Holland --> Real people portrayed as the primary subjects.
Counter-Reformation Church Art & Architecture
St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City by Gialorenzo Bernini
Church of Santiago de Compostella, Spain
Church of Veltenberg Altar, Germany
“The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Egid Quirim Asam, 1692-1750
Altar of Mercy, Germany, 1764
“St. Francis in Ecstasy” Caravaggio, 1595
“The Flagellation of Christ” by Caravaggio
“David and Goliath” by Caravaggio
“Salome with the Head of the Baptist” by Caravaggio
“The Cardsharps” Caravaggio, 1595
“The Dead Christ Mourned” Annibale Carracci, 1603
“The Virgin Appearing to St. Hyacinthe” Lodovico Carracci 1594
“Joseph’s Bloody Coat Brought to Jacob” Diego Velázquez, 1630
“Christ on the Cross” Diego Velázquez, 1632
“Las Meninas” Diego Velázquez 1656
“St. Francis in Meditation” Francisco de Zurbarán
“St. Bonaventure on His Deathbed” Francisco de Zurbarán, 1629
“The Elevation of the Cross” by Peter Paul Reubens 1610-11
“The Lamentation” by Peter Paul Reubens 1609-11
“Battle of the Amazons” Peter Paul Reubens
“A Village Fête” Peter Paul Reubens
“The Garden of Love” Peter Paul Reubens, 1630-32
“The Ecstasy of St. Theresa of Avila” by Gianlorenzo Bernini 1647-52
Portraits of Famous Personalities of the Times
“A Bust of Louis XIV” by Bernini
“Louis XVI” Hyacinthe Rigauld
“A Bust of Cardinal Richelieu” by Bernini
“Cardinal Richelieu” Philippe de Champaigne [1602-1674]
Baroque Homes
Baroque Furniture
Baroque Furniture
A Baroque Room
Baroque Music Characteristics: Belief that text should dominate the music; the lyrics and libretto were most important Composers developed the modern system of major-minor tonalities
Claudio Monteverdi (1547-1643) Developed the opera and the modern orchestra Orfeo (1607) – is his masterpiece, the first opera
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Concerto for Two Violins: "Vivace" Wrote dense and polyphonic structures Variety of genres, choral, instrumental, concertos etc. Extremely Prolific
George Frederick Handel (1685-1759) Variety of genres Masterpiece The Messiah
Dutch Style Characteristics: Did not fit the Baroque style of trying to overwhelm the viewer Reflected wealth of Dutch Republic Reflected urban and rural settings of Dutch life during the “golden Age of the Netherlands”
Rembrandt (1606-1669) Christ in the Storm on the Lake of Galilee, 1633 Oil on Canvas
Rembrandt Self Portrait, 1658
The Abduction of Europa, 1632
Jan Vermeer (1632-1675) Girl With a Pearl Earring, 1665
Jan Vermeer (1632-1675) Woman Holding a Balance, 1665
Frans Hals (1580-1666) Officers and Sergeants of the St Hadrian Civic Guard. c. 1633
French Classicism Nicolas Poussin, Self Portrait, 1650 Les Bergers d’Arcadie, 1650-55 Paintings rationally achieved harmony and balance Focused early on classical scenes from antiquity or Biblical scenes Later focused on landscape painting
Jean Racine (1639-1699) Dramatist Plays were often funded by Louis XIV Dramatic Works: La Thébaïde (1664) Alexandre le Grand (1665) Andromaque (1667) Les Plaideurs (1668) Britannicus(1669) Bérénice (1670) Bajazet (1672) Mithridate (1673) Iphigénie (1674) Phèdre (1677) Esther (1689) Athalie (1691) Dramatist Plays were often funded by Louis XIV Written in classical style
Jean-Baptist Moliere (1622-1673) Dramatist Focused on social struggles Made fun of aristocracy, upper bourgeoisie and high church officials Le Docteur amoureux (1658), the first play performed by Molière's troupe for Louis XIV (now lost) --The Doctor in Love