10 Baroque Arts Ecstasy 2011

8/3/2019 10 Baroque Arts Ecstasy 2011

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Happy belated Valentines Day (from the Baroque artists who gaveHappy belated Valentines Day (from the Baroque artists who gaveus the chubby cherubus the chubby cherub calledcalled puttiputti))



Reading Alert!Reading Alert!

Assigned readings for Fiero Assigned readings for Fieroon the syllabus for TH areon the syllabus for TH areincorrect incorrect

Today: 259Today: 259--276276

TH: 277TH: 277--291291



Handel and theHandel and theecstasy of theecstasy of the Messiah Messiah

I think I did I think I didsee allsee allHeavenHeaven

before mebefore meand the greatand the greatGod Himself!God Himself!



The arts of ecstasyThe arts of ecstasy From Greek,From Greek, ekek

stasisstasis,, to stand to standbeside oneselfbeside oneself

The experience of The experience of being Other tobeing Other tooneself: you andoneself: you andnot not--you, here andyou, here andthere at the samethere at the sametimetime

Contradiction,Contradiction,doubleness,doubleness,vastnessvastness

CorrespondingCorresponding

confusion of confusion of location, s acelocation, s ace



Mannerist, and thenMannerist, and thenBaroque artists, revelBaroque artists, revelin the sense of in the sense of distortion and surgingdistortion and surgingmotionmotion

El Greco, The VirginEl Greco, The Virginof the Immaculateof the ImmaculateConception (1608Conception (1608--1613)1613)

More dynamic senseMore dynamic senseof spaceof space everythingeverythingpotentially dramaticpotentially dramatic



Baroque theatricality:Baroque theatricality: Peter Paul Rubens,Peter Paul Rubens,«« Arrival of Marie de Medici at Arrival of Marie de Medici at

Marseilles,Marseilles, » 1622» 1622--16251625



Thank goodness were moreThank goodness were more

civilized.civilized.



Sources of new confidence, bravado Reformation

Catholic Counter-Reformation and end of Wars of Religion

Late Renaissance skepticism doubt now used to escape dogma, explore newness of New World, develop methods toresolve doubt (philosophy and naturalphilosophy or science) or make it source of drama (contradiction, conflict)

Encounter with Others Rationalize colonialism, turn it into mercantile

opportunity



The fate of Carnival and the carnivalesque in the BaroqueThe fate of Carnival and the carnivalesque in the Baroque

Catholic Churchs sponsorship of CarnivalCatholic Churchs sponsorship of Carnival(Feast of Fools, etc.) to regulate calendar(Feast of Fools, etc.) to regulate calendarand behaviorand behavior

The safety valve theory of carnivalThe safety valve theory of carnival

After Council of Trent and other reforms, After Council of Trent and other reforms,decision to counter the Reformation: newdecision to counter the Reformation: newemphasis by Church and State to coemphasis by Church and State to co--opt opt sensuality, the grotesque body, emotionalism,sensuality, the grotesque body, emotionalism,

etc. to dazzle the uneducated with religiousetc. to dazzle the uneducated with religiousfervor and feelingfervor and feeling

These are transferred into intensely religiousThese are transferred into intensely religiousart and emotionsart and emotions



Effects of the Inquisition:Effects of the Inquisition: Veronese Feast in the House of Levi Veronese Feast in the House of Levi

(originally The Last Supper)(originally The Last Supper)



Excerpt fromExcerpt frominterrogationinterrogation

INQUINQUISITOR:ISITOR: Why did you paintWhy did you paintthat man as a buffoon with athat man as a buffoon with aparrot on his wrist?parrot on his wrist?

VERONESE VERONESE: For ornament, as is: For ornament, as iscustomarycustomary

INQUISITORINQUISITOR: Are these not: Are these not

supposed to be suitable andsupposed to be suitable andproper to the subject matter proper to the subject matter or are they for pleasureor are they for pleasure simplysimplywhat comes to your mindwhat comes to your mindwithout any discretion?without any discretion?

VERONESE VERONESE: I paint pictures as I: I paint pictures as I

see fit and as well as my talentsee fit and as well as my talentpermits.permits.

INQUISITORINQUISITOR: Does it seem: Does it seemfitting at the Last Supper of Ourfitting at the Last Supper of OurLord to paint buffoons,Lord to paint buffoons,drunkards, Germans, dwarfsdrunkards, Germans, dwarfsand similar vulgarities?and similar vulgarities?



Baroque religious literatureBaroque religious literature

Council of Trent (1545Council of Trent (1545--63): doctrinal rigor63): doctrinal rigor almost outlaws highlyalmost outlaws highly

expressive artistic stylesexpressive artistic styles(polyphony in music;(polyphony in music;Mannerist art; mysticalMannerist art; mysticalpoetry; etc.)poetry; etc.)

Instead uses them asInstead uses them as

propagandapropaganda St. John of the Cross (1542St. John of the Cross (1542--

91)91)

Sor Juana Inés de la CruzSor Juana Inés de la Cruz(1651(1651--1695)1695)



St. John of the Cross,St. John of the Cross, Living Flame of Living Flame ofLoveLove

**Dark/Light in strongDark/Light in strongoppositionopposition

*Use of contradictory*Use of contradictorymodifiers [modifiers [tenderly tenderlywounding my soul Owounding my soul Owelcomewelcome ulcer everyulcer everydebtdebt redeemingredeeming/In /Inslaying]slaying]

*salvation described in*salvation described inerotic terms: seduction oferotic terms: seduction ofthe soulthe soul

*destructive force of fire*destructive force of firedistorted and reverseddistorted and reversed ----

purifyingpurifying



Erotic and spiritual statesErotic and spiritual states

Body/spirit split not a source of Body/spirit split not a source of anxiety, but something to transcendanxiety, but something to transcendthrough ecstasythrough ecstasy

Darkness with sudden enlightenment Darkness with sudden enlightenment

Pain with pleasurePain with pleasure

Seduction with salvationSeduction with salvationConcordia discorsConcordia discors

Conflict that creates harmonyConflict that creates harmony



Baroque Musical harmonyBaroque Musical harmony

Bach, CanonBach, Canon concordia discorsconcordia discors(BMV 1086)(BMV 1086)

This thing of darkness I This thing of darkness Iacknowledge mineacknowledge mine

For Prospero, anFor Prospero, anambiguous statementambiguous statement

For the artists andFor the artists andthinkers of thethinkers of theB

aroque, it becomesB

aroque, it becomesan aesthetic creedan aesthetic creed useusedissonance/darknessdissonance/darknessto enhance harmonyto enhance harmony



Bernini, Coronaro ChapelBernini, Coronaro Chapel



The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa(de Avila)(de Avila)



CoronaroCoronaro Chapel with figures in wings: theChapel with figures in wings: thetheatricalizationtheatricalization of ecstasyof ecstasy



Even the spectators are animatedEven the spectators are animated



Coranaro Chapel ceiling: ecstasy of lightCoranaro Chapel ceiling: ecstasy of lightThe first multimedia art?The first multimedia art?



Detail: ecstasy of the bodyDetail: ecstasy of the body--spiritspirit



Details:Details:Spiritual redemption through physical ecstasySpiritual redemption through physical ecstasy



The gospel of ecstasy:The gospel of ecstasy: Mahalia can make salvation sound like sex and Mahalia can make salvation sound like sex and

sex sound like salvation!sex sound like salvation!



Baroque poetryBaroque poetry

Concordia discorsConcordia discors

Use of conceit as organizing principleUse of conceit as organizing principle

Intellectual; wittyIntellectual; witty But in service of strong emotion (physical andBut in service of strong emotion (physical and

spiritual ardor)spiritual ardor)

Explore more jagged rhythms and off Explore more jagged rhythms and off--rhymesrhymes



John Donne

Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; foryou As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, andseek to mend ;That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me,and bend

Your force, to break, blow, burn, andmake me new.



I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,

Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.Reason, your viceroy in me, me shoulddefend,But is captived, and proves weak or

untrue. Yet dearly I love you, and would be lovedfain,

But am betroth'd unto your enemy;



Divorce me, untie, orbreak that knot again,

Take me to you,imprison me, for I,Except you enthrallme, never shall befree,

Nor ever chaste,except you ravish me.

See if you can findsimilar patterns of discordia concors in The Flea and otherDonne poems Bernini, Ecstasy of St.

Ludovica 1674



Caravaggio, Beheading of the BaptistCaravaggio, Beheading of the Baptist

Michelangelo Merisi,Michelangelo Merisi,aka Caravaggioaka Caravaggio

A real punk: street A real punk: street

brawler, gang member,brawler, gang member,murderer of a tennismurderer of a tennismatch opponentmatch opponent

Also the inventor of the Also the inventor of theFlorid (or CounterFlorid (or Counter--

Reformation) BaroqueReformation) Baroquestylestyle tenebrismtenebrism



Caravaggio, Beheading of the BaptistCaravaggio, Beheading of the Baptist

Michelangelo Merisi,Michelangelo Merisi,aka Caravaggioaka Caravaggio

A real punk: street A real punk: street

brawler, gang member,brawler, gang member,murderer of a tennismurderer of a tennismatch opponentmatch opponent

Also the inventor of the Also the inventor of theCounterCounter--ReformationReformation

Baroque styleBaroque style tenebrism tenebrism



Caravaggio, Death of the Virgin and detail (1606)Caravaggio, Death of the Virgin and detail (1606)



Caravaggio, Judith Beheading Holofernes (1598) withCaravaggio, Judith Beheading Holofernes (1598) withdramatic foreshortening and use of lightdramatic foreshortening and use of light



Even the blood is a little stagey



TheThe caravaggisti:caravaggisti: Artemesia Artemesia Gentileschi, JudithBeheadingGentileschi, Judith BeheadingHolofernes (1620 version)Holofernes (1620 version)



Detail: where does the artist learnthe physics of actual blood-spatter?



William Harvey, Exercitatio Anatomica de MotuCordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus ( An AnatomicalExercise on the Motion of the Heart and Blood in

Animals)

Mechanisms of circulation of blooddiscovered by 1616

Published 1628



Gentileschis use of Galileos study of the parabolic pathsGentileschis use of Galileos study of the parabolic pathsof projectiles (1608) for the blood spurt in Judithof projectiles (1608) for the blood spurt in Judith

Beheading HolofernesBeheading Holofernes (more on art and science next week!)(more on art and science next week!)



Gentileschi, Susannah and the Elders (1610)Gentileschi, Susannah and the Elders (1610)



Gentileschi, Mary Magdalene (1620)Gentileschi, Mary Magdalene (1620)



Gentileschi, SelfGentileschi, Self--Portrait as Female Martyr (1615)Portrait as Female Martyr (1615)



Gentileschi, Self Gentileschi, Self--Portrait as Allegory of PaintingPortrait as Allegory of Painting(1630)(1630)



Views of Bernini, David Views of Bernini, David



Comparison of Renaissance and BaroqueComparison of Renaissance and Baroque Davids Davids



David detail of facial expression: David detail of facial expression:ee--motionmotion



Bernini, Fountain of the Four Rivers, RomeBernini, Fountain of the Four Rivers, Rome



The Baroque love of moving water: art in motionThe Baroque love of moving water: art in motion



Mastery over even the most liquid and dynamic forms inMastery over even the most liquid and dynamic forms innaturenature



Aerial view, St. Peters, Rome Aerial view, St. Peters, Rome



Bernini, Baldachinno St. PetersBernini, Baldachinno St. Peters

Note the scale ascompared tohumans





Bernini,Bernini, Cathedri PetriCathedri Petri



Cathedra PetriCathedra Petri (detail in polished bronze)(detail in polished bronze)



1717thth--C. Baroque Churches in Mexico City (L) andC. Baroque Churches in Mexico City (L) andNicaragua (R): The Baroque as an InternationalNicaragua (R): The Baroque as an International

StyleStyle



Pozzo, Apotheosisof St.Ignatius

Di sotto in sù( seen frombelow)perspectivevery

dramatic,emotionally

uplifting

Experiencewith Baroque

music formaximumeffect Bachs

Magnificatworks pretty

well





The actualarchitecturalshape of theceiling

Illusionistic

effects of quadratura



Note the floating image





Detail,Detail, CarignanoCarignano (vs. severe,(vs. severe,rectilinear Renaissance style of rectilinear Renaissance style of Alberti Alberti))

N t ti th B b d It l d thN t ti th B b d It l d th



Next time: the Baroque beyond Italy and theNext time: the Baroque beyond Italy and themastery of infinite (and intimate) space mastery of infinite (and intimate) space



and mastery of another kind

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10 Baroque Arts Ecstasy 2011