The Baroque World

The Counter-Reformation Spirit Council of Trent ( ) Redefined doctrines, reaffirmed dogmas Assertion of discipline, education New artistic demands, purpose Society of Jesus, Jesuits Ignatius Loyola ( ) Missionaries, educational improvement Council of Trent ( ) Redefined doctrines, reaffirmed dogmas Assertion of discipline, education New artistic demands, purpose Society of Jesus, Jesuits Ignatius Loyola ( ) Missionaries, educational improvement

Seventeenth-Century Baroque Commitment to strong emotional statements Sense of psychological exploration Technical virtuosity Rich, ornate, elaborate, fanciful Strong emotionalism Invention of new and daring techniques Commitment to strong emotional statements Sense of psychological exploration Technical virtuosity Rich, ornate, elaborate, fanciful Strong emotionalism Invention of new and daring techniques

Galileo Galilei founder of modern physics and astronomy founder of modern physics and astronomy used the new technology of the telescope to prove Copernicus correct, as well as to observe the inconstancy of the heavens (craters of the moon, sunspots, phases of venus, moons of Jupiter) used the new technology of the telescope to prove Copernicus correct, as well as to observe the inconstancy of the heavens (craters of the moon, sunspots, phases of venus, moons of Jupiter) convicted by the Church Inquisition for heresy and forced to recant his scientifically accurate conclusions because the Church believed the heavens to be unalterable and perfect, and the Earth to be the center of the universe. The Church was wrong and the scientist was right—and Pope John Paul II finally exonerated Galileo in convicted by the Church Inquisition for heresy and forced to recant his scientifically accurate conclusions because the Church believed the heavens to be unalterable and perfect, and the Earth to be the center of the universe. The Church was wrong and the scientist was right—and Pope John Paul II finally exonerated Galileo in 1980.

Rene Descartes, founder of modern philosophy Cogito ergo sum! In books such as his Discourse on Method (1637) and Meditations (1641), he rejects received truths of Aristotle Begins philosophical analysis of the condition of being by basing all claims on logical observations, not received truths. After all, our perceptions may be misleading, and thus must also be subjected to rigorous analysis and fact checking.

John Donne, a “metaphysical” English Baroque poet. In his very clever and technical poems such as “The Flea” and “The Valediction” he sought to give new intellectual expression to emotional states, often using naturalistic and scientific imagery.

John Donne’s “The Flea” A baroque “metaphysical” poem Note the poet’s use of elaborate naturalistic and scientific metaphors. Mark but this flea, and mark in this, How little that which thou deniest me is ; It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. Thou know'st that this cannot be said A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ; Yet this enjoys before it woo, And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two; And this, alas ! is more than we would do. O stay, three lives in one flea spare, Where we almost, yea, more than married are. This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is. Though parents grudge, and you, we're met, And cloister'd in these living walls of jet. Though use make you apt to kill me, Let not to that self-murder added be, And sacrilege, three sins in killing three. Cruel and sudden, hast thou since Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence? Wherein could this flea guilty be, Except in that drop which it suck'd from thee? Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now. 'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ; Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me, Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

John Milton in Paradise Lost he combined a reformation sensibility with a Baroque interest in psychological states

Rome Visual Arts in the Baroque Period Painting in Rome Caravaggio ( ) Dramatic naturalism, realism Brutal, pessimistic Emotional, psychological Chiaroscuro The Calling of St. Matthew ( ) The Martyrdom of St. Matthew (c. 1602) Caravaggio ( ) Dramatic naturalism, realism Brutal, pessimistic Emotional, psychological Chiaroscuro The Calling of St. Matthew ( ) The Martyrdom of St. Matthew (c. 1602)

As a point of contrast, here is Byzantine and Medieval Art: it is flat, iconic, not realistic, religiously symbolic. Contrast this with Caravaggio’s religious paintings in the following slides…

Caravaggio The Calling of St. Matthew ( )

Carravagio, The Martyrdom of St. Matthew (c. 1602) (you can see why Matthew wasn’t so eager to be called!)

Visual Arts in the Baroque Period Roman Baroque Sculpture and Architecture Gian Lorenzo Bernini ( ) Chief architect of Counter-Reformation Built fountains, palaces, churches for Vatican Religious-themed sculptures David (1623) Saint Teresa in Ecstasy ( ) Gian Lorenzo Bernini ( ) Chief architect of Counter-Reformation Built fountains, palaces, churches for Vatican Religious-themed sculptures David (1623) Saint Teresa in Ecstasy ( )

Bernini David (1623)

Contrast with Donatello and Michelangelo

Bernini Saint Teresa in Ecstasy ( )

Baroque Art in France The Palace of Versailles Louis XIV = the Sun King Grandiose symbolism of the palace Baroque extremes matched with Classical simplicity The Palace of Versailles Louis XIV = the Sun King Grandiose symbolism of the palace Baroque extremes matched with Classical simplicity

Hyacinthe Rigaud ( ) Portrait of Louis XIV (1701)

Baroque Art in Spain Diego Velázquez ( ) Vitality of scene Lives of ordinary people Las Meninas (1656) Color Space Reality of detail Diego Velázquez ( ) Vitality of scene Lives of ordinary people Las Meninas (1656) Color Space Reality of detail

Las Meninas (1656)

Baroque Art in Northern Europe Peter Paul Rubens ( ) Hélène Fourment and Her Children Intimate, tender Personalized emotionality The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus Restless energy, sense of action Female nudity, ample proportions Peter Paul Rubens ( ) Hélène Fourment and Her Children Intimate, tender Personalized emotionality The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus Restless energy, sense of action Female nudity, ample proportions

Baroque Art in Northern Europe Jan Vermeer ( ) Inner contemplation, repose Light, stillness Jan Vermeer ( ) Inner contemplation, repose Light, stillness

Baroque Art in Northern Europe Rembrandt van Rijn ( ) Spiritual matters, problems of existence The Night Watch (1642) Self-understanding through self-portraits Psychologically reflective Tragic nature of human destiny Emotionality through virtuosity Rembrandt van Rijn ( ) Spiritual matters, problems of existence The Night Watch (1642) Self-understanding through self-portraits Psychologically reflective Tragic nature of human destiny Emotionality through virtuosity

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