Baroque Sculpture By: Casey Barrett (Group Project)
Overseas travel, the rising wealth, and newly developed theories provided the context for the Baroque style to emerge. With its ornateness, spatial grandeur, and theatrical flamboyance, Baroque had become the center piece to an age of vital expansion. It mirrored religious fervor of the Catholic Reformation (Italy), worked to glorify royal wealth and majesty (France), conveyed the self-reflective spirit of Protestant devotionalism (Northern Europe), and embraced the new view of the universe from the Scientific Revolution (West). Flourishing from 1600 to 1750, the Baroque style brought keen naturalism and emotionalism to Western art. Baroque sculptors used light and space to convey physical energy and dramatic movement.
The original Baroque sculptor was Gianlorenzo Bernini. He was a modern Caravaggio (original Baroque painter) at the time. He brought the theatrical spirit of Baroque painting to Italian sculpture. Bernini was one of Rome’s leading sculptors in the seventeenth century. Under Bernini’s direction, Rome became the “city of fountains” with the revival of the Fountain of the Four Rivers. It was a favorite ornamental device of the Baroque era.
Bernini also challenged Renaissance sculptural tradition by investing it with a virtuosic naturalism and dramatic movement. He created his own David. In contrast with the languid and effeminate David of Donatello or the Classically posed hero of Michelangelo, Bernini’s David appears in mid-action. Thus giving it a visual narrative.
Bernini’s most important contribution to Baroque religious sculpture was his multimedia masterpiece The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. Bold illusionism heightens the theatrical effect. Sweetness and eroticism dominate this extraordinary image.
After Bernini leading the way for Baroque sculpture, others began to take their try at it. One of these sculptors was François Girardon. He created Apollo Attended by the Nymphs to link the Greek sun god with the French King (Louis XIV) who assigned him the job.
Another famous sculptor from the Baroque era who took his try at the art was Aleijadinho. Aleijadinho was Brazil’s most famous Baroque artist. His finest work is considered to be his set of statues of the Santuario de Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in Congonhas.
Making sculptures in the Baroque era consisted of using different materials. These materials included marble (most popular), stucco (pliable, light plaster), and bronze. These three were the most common. Marble Stucco Bronze
The Baroque style is still used today as inspiration when it comes to decorating a home, creating graphic art, or even getting tattoos. The Baroque era has left a huge impact on history and now in our modern world. Baroque sculpture helped push the Baroque style even further into popularity. Buildings and places outdoors are decorated with elements from Baroque sculpture. Sculpture will always impact the world, but none have made as much noise as Baroque sculpture.
The End
Works Cited Fiero, Gloria K. "Ch " The Humanistic Tradition. Sixth ed. Vol. 4. New York: McGraw-Hill, Print Carley. "We're Making Progress!" Honey and The Moon. Blogspot, 16 June Web. 20 Nov Adriana. "The Influence of Art History on Modern Design – Baroque Style." Pixel77.com. Pixel77, 20 July Web. 20 Nov "ORNATE FRAME - Public Domain Clip Art Image." WPClipart Is a Collection of High-quality Artwork and Photos Optimized for Use with Word Processors and Inkjet Printers. WPClipart. Web. 20 Nov "Piazza Navona." Gothereguide.com. Gothereguide.com. Web. 20 Nov "Bernini - Smarthistory." Smarthistory: a Multimedia Web-book about Art and Art History. KhanAcademy. Web. 20 Nov Sesl2. "Ecstacy of St. Teresa | Sesl2's Blog." Sesl2's Blog | Just Another WordPress.com Site. Wordpress.com, 19 June Web. 20 Nov "Apollo Attended by Nymphs." Usc.edu. Usc. Web. 20 Nov CRWInc. "16 X 16 BLUE MARBLE LOOK CERAMIC TILE - Detroit - Everything Else - Detroit Tile and Ceramic." Detroit Classifieds, Detroit Free Classifieds, Detroit Online Classifieds | OLX.com. OLX. Web. 20 Nov Taylor, Jarod. "5 Free Hi-Res Grunge Concrete Textures | Jarod Taylor Web Designer & Developer." Jarod Taylor - Web Design & Web Development. Wordpress.com, 8 Jan Web. 20 Nov Artifex Textures. "Metal Textures - a Set on Flickr." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Flickr, 28 Mar Web. 20 Nov