Baroque Art

Baroque Art – 1600-1750 Begins in Rome -Renaissance artists did everything “perfectly”, so it was a time to change… -Reaction to Mannerism

Baroque Art – 1600-1750 Begins in Rome -Renaissance artists did everything “perfectly”, so it was a time to change… -Reaction to Mannerism 2. Every country that develops it, adds its own “spin” 3. Most common element = Use of light to achieve maximum emotional impact.

Baroque Art – 1600-1750 Begins in Rome -Renaissance artists did everything “perfectly”, so it was a time to change… -Reaction to Mannerism 2. Every country that develops it, adds its own “spin” 3. Most common element = Use of light to achieve maximum emotional impact. 4. Patrons = wealthy & burghers looking for home improvements for living rooms… 5. Emphasis on emotion + dynamism rather than rationality + stasis

Two distinct “schools” of Baroque Art: Catholic Countries: Italy, Flanders (Flemish), Spain, France Protestant Countries: England & Holland (Dutch)

Baroque Art – 1600-1750 Catholic Countries: Italy, Flanders (Flemish), Spain, France Common Traits that reflect the values of the time: -Gigantic religious works to display their faith’s triumph and to over-whelm and attract new worshippers. -Massive displays of wealth by absolute monarchs to enchant and impress visitors.

Baroque Art – 1600-1750 Catholic Countries: Italy, Flanders (Flemish), Spain, France What to look for: -Use of light – harsh light from single source to concentrate your eye (chiaroscuro but for focal point…). -Saints and miracles looking like ordinary people and events -dynamic explosion of energy – images captured at height of action -VERY fat female nudes -portraits – posed to show refinement but looked “real”

Caravaggio Italian This is a test Conversion of St. Paul

Caravaggio Italian The Supper at Emmaus

Bernini Italian David

David

Bernini Italian The Ecstasy of St. Theresa

Bernini Italian Baldachin of St. Peter’s Cathedral This supreme example of Baroque art was the first masterpiece that the twenty-six year old genius, Gianlorenzo Bernini made for St. Peter's Basilica. It is impossible not to admire this fantastic, sumptuous bronze canopy supported by four spiral columns, richly decorated with gold, as it majestically rises upward. It is the largest known bronze artwork. He sent most of his life working on St. Peter’s Cathedral

Rubens Flemish The Descent from the Cross

Rubens Flemish The Hippopotamus Hunt

Rubens Flemish Marie Arrives at Marseilles

Rubens Flemish The Three Graces

Van Dyck Flemish Charles I at the Hunt

Van Dyck Flemish Count of Ossuna

Velazquez Spanish Portrait of Pope Innocent X

Velazquez Spanish This painting was voted in 1985 as “the greatest work of art by a human being.” Las Meninas

In the seventeenth century, France was the most powerful country in the world and Louis XIV tapped the finest talents to glorify his monarchy. France replaced Rome as the center of European art (a distinction it held until WWII) even though its art was modeled on Roman relics… Poussin was the most famous French artist. Painted antiquity – French Baroque art is often referred to as “Classicism” because it was copied so often during the next 200 years.

Poussin French Burial of Phocion

Poussin French Autumn or The Grapes brought from the Promised Land.

The classic example of Baroque art/style

Baroque Art – 1600-1750 Protestant Countries: Holland (Dutch) & England Common Traits that reflect the values of the time: -Still lifes -Landscapes -Portraits -Very little to no religious imagery

Ruisdael Dutch The Sunbeam

Ruisdael Dutch The Sunbeam

Hals Dutch The Jolly Toper Jester with a Lute

Hals Dutch The Laughing Cavalier

Rembrandt Dutch

Rembrandt Dutch Night Watch

Rembrandt Dutch The Masters of the Cloth Guild

Vermeer Dutch The Geographer

Vermeer Dutch The Milkmaid

Vermeer Dutch Girl with a Pearl Earring

Vermeer Dutch The Artist’s Studio

Hogarth English Breakfast Scene from Marriage a la Mode

Hogarth English Gin Lane

Gainsborough English Reynolds English