Chapter Nineteen Baroque Art

Baroque Art of Italy and Flanders Counter-Reformation: an effort by the Catholic Church to lure people Baroque art:a style characterized by movement, vivid contrast, and emotional intensity

Baroque Architecture Counter-Reformation revived church building Style included: – Sculptured scrolls

Francesco Borromini ( ) San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane – Movement, contrast/ variety – Façade of continuous curving surfaces – Pattern of dark/ light

Mood and Drama Sculptural interest in capturing drama Colored marbled replaced white Forms break out of their architectural frames = overwhelm

Gianlorenzo Bernini ( ) Merging of sculpture/ architecture The Ecstasy of St. Theresa – St. Theresa’s vision: Angel pierced her heart with the golden arrow symbolizing God’s love

Bernini Baroque style of space/ light – Figures appear to move freely Twisting

Baroque Painting Dramatic lighting – Vivid contrast Increase in action

Caravaggio ( ) Studied/ painted the world around him Light was an important – Illuminated subjects imperfections/ flaws The Conversation of St. Paul – Scene pushed forward – Eyewitness viewpoint

Gesture Drawing

Artemisia Gentileschi ( ) First female painter in the history of Western art to have a significant impact on the art of her time Judith and the Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes – Biblical story – Illuminated by a single candle flame for drama

Peter Paul Rubens ( ) Influenced by Titian, Tintoretto, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio – Added realistic details (favored by the Flemish) The Raising of the Cross – Intense action – Feeling of energy/ life Curving lines create flow

Dutch Art Religious sculptures/ paintings had little appeal for the Dutch Protestants – Baroque mainly appealed to Catholics Dutch citizens wanted secular art – Artists began to paint genre works Genre: scenes from everyday life

Frans Hals (c ) Specialized in portraits The Laughing Cavalier – Cheerful soldier Young Man and Woman in an Inn – Quick brushstrokes – Candid photograph-like quality

Rembrandt van Rijn ( ) Painted portraits, everyday events, historical subjects, and landscapes – Refused to specialize in one genre The Night Watch – Study of light, shadow and atmosphere Dramatic effect

Rembrandt Artist in His Studio – Self-portrait? – Figure standing and observing his work Represents the thought that art is a deliberate, thoughtful process, requiring much skill

Jan Vermeer ( ) The Love Letter – Ordinary event transformed into a masterpiece Actions seems frozen in time

Judith Leyster ( ) Did not abide by the expectations for women to paint delicate still lifes – Painted genre subjects/ portraits Influenced by Caravaggio and Hals

Still Life Intended to satisfy the Dutch public – Small; hung inside the home – Dazzling colors, ornate forms and rich textures

Spanish Art Continued painting saints, crucifixions and martyrdoms

Jusepe de Ribera ( ) Showed greater realism The Blind Old Beggar – Dramatic light – Details: wrinkles, creases and rough beard

Diego Velazquez ( ) Painter for the Spanish royal court Las Meninas – Translate to “the maids of honor” – Use of mirror reminds viewer of van Eyck – Creates an illusion of space