Baroque ArtBaroque Art

If it’s not Baroque

don’t fix it!Hee Hee

Hee!

Characteristics of Baroque ArtCharacteristics of Baroque Art

•Return to Rome as the centre of the arts—Return to Rome as the centre of the arts—that’s where the money wasthat’s where the money was

•Complex, but unnecessarily Complex, but unnecessarily

•More passionateMore passionate

•Art seems “overdone”Art seems “overdone”

MannerismMannerism

•Began in Italy—spreads North because ofBegan in Italy—spreads North because of- outbreak of the plague (1522) - outbreak of the plague (1522) - the sack of Rome (1527)- the sack of Rome (1527)

•Self-consciously artificial –derived from Self-consciously artificial –derived from certain aspects of works of Raphael and certain aspects of works of Raphael and MichelangeloMichelangelo

•Formulated abstraction—emphasizes grace Formulated abstraction—emphasizes grace variety, and virtuoso at the expense of clarity, variety, and virtuoso at the expense of clarity, content, and unitycontent, and unity

•Appeals to a small sophisticated audienceAppeals to a small sophisticated audience

•Comes out of the High Renaissance quest Comes out of the High Renaissance quest for originality—projection of individuals for originality—projection of individuals personality—explore imaginations freelypersonality—explore imaginations freely

•Many regarded it as decadentMany regarded it as decadent

•Intensely religious subjects yet also shows Intensely religious subjects yet also shows spiritual bankruptcyspiritual bankruptcy

•Later praise for its visionary power to help Later praise for its visionary power to help shift to religious sensibilityshift to religious sensibility

The Venus of UrbinoThe Venus of UrbinoTitian, 1538

Christ in the House of LeviChrist in the House of LeviVeronese, 1573

Detail Detail

Burial of Burial of Count OrgazCount OrgazEl Greco, 1586

DetailDetail

Detail: Contemporaries & PatronsDetail: Contemporaries & Patrons

Detail: Detail: AscensionAscension

Baroque Art in the SouthBaroque Art in the South

•Art become propaganda—Counter Art become propaganda—Counter Reformation: want to get people back into Reformation: want to get people back into the church and St. Peter’s most important the church and St. Peter’s most important venues for artvenues for art

•Mysticism brought into the church—Mysticism brought into the church—architecture glorifies Godarchitecture glorifies God

•Jesuits help to reform church in 1500s/1600sJesuits help to reform church in 1500s/1600s

•Attendance kept of people going to churchAttendance kept of people going to church

The Calling The Calling of of

St. MatthewSt. MatthewCaravaggio, 1599-1602

DetailDetail

Judith Judith and the and the

Maidservant Maidservant with the with the Head of Head of

HolofernesHolofernes

Gentileschi,

1625

Glorification Glorification of the Reign of the Reign

of Pope of Pope Urban VIIIUrban VIIIda Cortona, 1633-1639;

Fresco

DetailDetail

David David (marble)(marble) Bernini,

1623

Ecstasy ofEcstasy ofSt. TheresaSt. Theresa

Bernini,

1645-1652; marble

Tabernacle Tabernacle (Baldacchino) (Baldacchino) at the Crossing at the Crossing of St. Peter’sof St. Peter’s

Bernini; 1624-1633

Baroque Art in the NorthBaroque Art in the North

•Holland and Flanders (S. Netherlands)Holland and Flanders (S. Netherlands)

•Not sponsored by the State and church because Not sponsored by the State and church because of Reformation/Protestantismof Reformation/Protestantism

•Private collector is chief form of supportPrivate collector is chief form of support

•Pictures became a commodityPictures became a commodity

•Supply and demand allowed artists to produce Supply and demand allowed artists to produce for a market—not unusual for an artist to run for a market—not unusual for an artist to run and businessand business

•France and EnglandFrance and England

•FranceFrance: more about the : more about the glorification of King glorification of King Louis XIVLouis XIV

•EnglandEngland: no real : no real contribution except the contribution except the rebuilding of St. Paul’s rebuilding of St. Paul’s Cathedral by Sir Cathedral by Sir Christopher Wren after Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London the Great Fire of London in 1666in 1666

Malle BabbeMalle Babbe Frans Hals;

1650

DetailDetail

Blinding of SamsonBlinding of SamsonRembrandt; 1636

DetailDetail

Return Return of the of the

Prodigal Prodigal SonSon

Rembrandt; 1665

DetailDetail

DetailDetail

Night Night Watch Watch

Rembrandt

DetailDetail

The Love The Love LetterLetter

Vermeer; 1666

DetailDetail

Christ in the Christ in the Carpenter’s Carpenter’s

ShopShopde la Tour; 1645

DetailDetail

Rape of the Sabine WomenRape of the Sabine Women Poussin;1636-1637

DetailDetail

The Garden of LoveThe Garden of LoveRubens; 1638

Palace at VersaillesPalace at Versailles Hardouin-mansart; 1669-1685

Detail: Garden FrontDetail: Garden Front

Baroque gone nuts, RussiaBaroque gone nuts, Russia