Religion in the Baroque Period

Raising of Lazarus, Caravaggio

Reformation in

Catholic Church

The Protestantism reformation had gained immense power since Martin Luther began his crusade against

the Catholic Church in 1517. In response, seeing all the power that is had lost, in 1540 the Catholic Church

began its own reformation. Heading the reformation was Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.

St. Ignatius Loyola, Francisco De Zurbaran

Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius Loyola

Spread of CatholicismCatholic

missionaries of the monastic orders

traveled extensively outside of Europe.

The Jesuit order made initial progress in

converting many of the populace in both China

and Japan. The conversion in Asia was however short lived. In

China conflict arose over Confucian rites and in Japan, Catholics began

to be seen as seditious.

The Catholic missionaries had the largest, longest lasting success in the

Spanish colonies of the New World. To this day

Catholicism in the primary religion in that part of the

world. Catholicism had taken such an effect, that

missionaries of other faiths never had much influence.

The Catholics of the New World developed their own concepts of the

faith, including the dark skin Virgin pictured

above.

The Virgin of Guadalupe

Council of Trent

Reaffirmed all 7 sacraments

Cleared up definition of original sin

and its consequences

Niceno-Constinople Creed declared as

basis of faith

Old and New Testament canon

fixed

Declared Luther’s doctrine for

justification by faith alone incorrect

Guidelines set for to eliminate

abuses by clergyPreaching to laity

emphasized

Intellectual life among clergy encouraged

Council of Trent, Titian

Effects of the Catholic ReformationThe fervent mysticism of the Catholic

Reformation can be seen in the literature and art of the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Visions of St. Teresa are full of the passion of the religion of the age. “May what was said be of help that the true servant of God might pay no attention to the scarecrows the devils set up in

order to cause fear.”

The Ecstasy of St. Teresa, Bernini

The Italian Baroque artists worked to create animated portrayals of biblical scenes which draw the viewer into the

scene as if they are a participant in the story.

Judith Slaying Holofernes, Gentileschi

Baroque Protestantism

Ascension, Rembrandt

The King James Bible

King James Bible, 1611

King James the I of England, Paulus Van Somer

James I of England wanted to create and “authorized” English

version of the bible. He commissioned the

creation of the King James Bible which was

published in 1611.

The language of the King James version of the

Bible is indicative of the poetic language of the

Baroque, the language of Shakespeare and Donne.

Religious Fervor in Northern Baroque arts

The great influence of the zealous Protestantism can be seen in every part of the Northern Baroque culture, from

its literature and art to its music.

John Donne, Isaac Oliver Johann Sebastian Bach, Elias Gottlob Haussman

Both great poets of this period, John Donne and John Milton, author of Paradise Lost were both

greatly inspired by their protestant faiths, there works being of a very personal religious nature.

The greatest composer of the Northern Baroque, Johann Bach, was inspired in his compositions by religious

sermons.