BAROQUE1580-1700

1.1 Baroque Characteristics

Baroque is derived from the Italian word “barocco” which means “misshapen pearl.”

rejected the classical styles of the Renassiance.

Art was used to restore the power of the monarchy and the church.

Characteristics include: excess, ornamentation, contrasts, tensions,

and energy.

Baroque Dance-Development of Ballet

French King Louis XIV, aka the Sun King Dancer and contributed to the grown of ballet His favorite ballet was called “Apollo”

Took dance classes from Pierre Beauchamps, Employed musician Jean-Baptiste Lully,

The Royal Academy of Music and Dance in France. Book-History Dance in Art and Education,

the basis of ballet technique-what we know today All educated people learned to dance (like us

driving) People didn’t dance on their toes until the 19th

century

Drama/Theatre – Baroque

Theatre productions inside on stages. Became more elaborate as did scenic

elements and costumes. Spectacular court productions were called

masques By the end of the 18th century, women

actors Writing explored more domestic themes.

Music – BaroqueJohann Sebastian Bach

(1685-1750)

German composer Worked for a church. Not well known Played the harpsichord Remembered for his

Cantatas. A Cantata

musical work that consisted of several pieces of music that were related to each other by their text from bible.

25 minutes, sung in German.

Most famous works: Toccata

And Fugue In D Minor

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Germany composer settled in England

Well known Oratorio

Longer, tells a religious story and the text is not directly from the Bible.

Famous work- The Messiah. the story of the birth, passion, and

resurrection of Christ. Usually performed during Christmas

Effects of Baroque Music

The Catholic Church was no longer the dominant religion in every European country.

In Germany, (Protestant) Bach wrote cantatas for the Lutheran church service.

In England (Catholic) oratorios were performed as special music concerts as an alternative to opera.

Baroque Art

Characteristics: excess, ornamentation, full of drama and energy

appeal to the heart instead of the mind. Emotion was the goal break from the “Classical” qualities of the

Renaissance. Catholic countries used religious subject

matter to draw people back Protestants countries wanted no religious

art for their churches.

Michelangelo Merisi “Caravaggio” (1571-1610)

Born in Italy Used chiaroscuro, extreme

contrasts between light and dark values, to illuminate his works.

His figures were flawed appeared more real and human.

His paintings were shocking at the time.

People thought he was being disrespectful by showing religious figures as ordinary, everyday people.

His life was far from being considered religious.

trouble with the law. fights, was sued and

sent to prison. In 1606 killed a man in

an argument over a score in a tennis game.

Caught pneumonia and died at the age of

39.

“St. Francis in Ecstasy”Caravaggio, 1595

“St. Francis in Ecstasy”Caravaggio, 1595

“The Flagellatio

n of Christ”

by Caravaggi

o

“The Flagellatio

n of Christ”

by Caravaggi

o

“David and Goliath” by Caravaggio

“David and Goliath” by Caravaggio

“Salome with the Head of the Baptist”

by Caravaggio

“Salome with the Head of the Baptist”

by Caravaggio

“The Cardsharps”Caravaggio, 1595“The Cardsharps”Caravaggio, 1595

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)

Born in Holland He moved to Amsterdam to work with an artist

who had studied in Italy and was greatly influenced by Caravaggio.

Learned how to use chiaroscuro Unlike most Dutch painters, Rembrandt

painted religious subjects; self-portraits, as well as landscapes, portraits, still-

lifes, and genre paintings. remembered for his special use of lighting,

creating a golden glow around his subjects to express mood and emotion