Art and Music of the 17th and 18th centuries

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Baroque Music

The Music is from Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto

Bach was patronized by the Margrave of Brandenburg.

Baroque music will reflect the major issues of the times. Scientific Revolution (logic and reason), Enlightenment, and Absolutism.

Characteristics of Baroque Music

One mood throughout the piece Melody repeated over and over Harpsicord a popular instrument Music was a diversion in Aristocratic

courts. Most of your patrons were nobility or royals.

Major artists—Bach, Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Handel

Mannerism

Artistic movement in the late 16th century Bridge between the Renaissance and

Baroque Represented the religious turmoil of the

times. Dark, elongated figures, emotional. Eccentric artists—Rosso lived with a

baboon and dug up corpses.

El Greco

The Greek –actually from Spain Elongated bodies—out of proportion. Busy—twisted bodies and lots of people

in them. Suffering and emotion. Inner light—in most paintings—light from

within. Resurrection, The Burial of Count Orgaz,

Baptism of Christ

El GrecoBurial of Count Orgaz

Notice the elongated bodies.

Notice—God’s judgment from on high (Cath. Church)

Notice the reflective Monk

Find St. Peter—holds the keys to heaven!!

Baptism of ChristEl Greco

Notice similar things from the previous picture.

El GrecoThe Resurrection of Christ

More examples of Mannerism with the distinct characteristics.

Baroque MusicBach’s Organ Fugue in G

The next musical piece you are hearing is Bach’s Organ Fugue in G Minor

Four voices repeating the same melody. Logic, reason Same mood—a bit dark and

overpowering.

Baroque Art

Baroque Art was very unique to each nation so we will look at the characteristics of Baroque Art for the different countries

In general• Advanced techniques and grand scale of Renaissance

with emotion and intensity of Mannerism.

• Ornate, passionate, powerful, flamboyant

• Art of Absolutism—showed power of state

• Emphasis on motion and drama

Italian Baroque

Two key features of Italian Baroque• It was to proclaim the power and confidence of

Catholicism. Papacy and Jesuits encouraged the intensely emotional art to “touch souls and rekindle faith.”

• It used the same emotion and passion to show realism

Major artists• Artemisia Gentileschi

• Bernini

• Caravaggio

GentileschiJudith Slaying Holosfernes

BerniniEcstacy of St. Theresa

BerniniSt. Peters Cathedral (architecture)The Piazza)

BerniniDavid Slaying Goliath (motion—compare to Michelangelo)

CaravaggioThe Conversion of St. Paul (Emotion)

Flemish Baroque

Refers to the Southern Netherlands (Flanders). Catholic area (modern day Belgium). Stayed with Spain after Dutch Independence.

Energy, Pomp, colorful, flamboyant. Cheerful Chubby Cherubs Fat is beautiful—full bodied sensual nudes Peter Paul Rubens—Marie de Medici (2nd wife

of Henry IV of France) popular subject

RubensMarie Arrives at Marseilles

HandelFor Unto us a Child is BornFrom Messiah

The Messiah is a religious opera. It was written in 1741

Notice how this piece is similar to the Fugue—repeats the same melody and has the same mood throughout.

The Hallelujah Chorus is the most famous piece from the Messiah

Dutch Baroque

Very different from Flemish Baroque. Protestant, independent, democratic.

Less religious (think Calvinism austerity here) and more daily life

Patrons—wealthy middle class merchants. Motion and still life—capture a moment. LIGHT SOURCE. Spotlight or window Rembrandt, Vermeer

The Astronomer by Jan Vermeer

Trade and banking were the main economic activities. Banking provided capital for commercial ventures.

The Milkmaid by Vermeer

Still life became a popular genre in Dutch Baroque style. Regents, merchants, and the Orange family were major patrons.

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer

Threats from France, Spain, storms, and others tended to bring the Dutch together. They prided themselves on the development of a unique Dutch culture.

VivaldiSpring (The Four Seasons)

Vivaldi is a popular Baroque composer. This work was a favorite of Louis XV of

France. It is a part of the Four Seasons Concerto for

Violin. Notice it goes fast, slow, fast. Once again it

repeats melody and has a simple mood. Also—notice the connection with Nature

(Natural Laws)

The Night Watch by RembrandtWars drained Dutch resources. Often they resorted to breaking dams/dikes to stave off invasion from the French. The Orange family line died out (after becoming the monarchs in England). Commercial ventures lost money and social mobility declined.

RembrandtSelf Portraits (light source)

English Baroque

Remember the upheaval of the 17th century (English Civil War, Cromwell’s puritanical reign, Glorious Revolution)

London fire of 1666—13,000 houses and 87 churches destroyed.

Literary creativity—Shakespeare Hogarth—social critic Wren—architect of London

Hogarth, Marriage a la ModeRidiculed the nouveau riche (rising middle class)

HogarthGin Lane and Beer Street

HogarthRake’s Progress—seamy side of lifeThe Rake sits in debtor’s prison

Christopher WrenArchitect St. Paul’s Cathedral

Spanish Baroque

Spain spent lots of money—especially the Royal family. High inflation. Spain goes into economic depression

Heavy emphasis on the Spanish Royal Family.

Less pompous than the Flemish style and more realistic.

Diego Velazquez

Las Meninas

Velasquez

1656

VelazquesThe Infanta Margarita (Louvre exhibit)

MonteverdiYou are Dead from Orpheus

Orpheus is an opera. Orpheus comes from Greek myth—the

gifted musician. His joy is shattered when his bride is killed by a poisonous snake.

This is when Orpheus realizes she is dead. Mood, emotion, passion should be evident.

French Baroque

POWER OF THE KING France had replaced Italy as the artistic

center of Europe. Baroque became a bit too showy so they

moved quickly to French Classicism. Humanistic themes—landscapes,

antiquity. Versailles—best architectural example

Poussin—favorite artist of Louis XIII and Louis XIV. French Classicism.

PoussinRape of the Sabine Women

Versailles

Versailles