By Megan LynchBy Megan Lynch
The The Baroque PeriodBaroque Period
Baroque OverviewBaroque Overview Flourished between Flourished between
1600-17501600-1750 Brought an increased Brought an increased
naturalism to naturalism to Western artWestern art
Brought a new level Brought a new level of emotionalism to of emotionalism to Western artWestern art
Driven by the wealth Driven by the wealth of the middle classof the middle class
Baroque is Baroque is associated with the associated with the following features:following features: OrnatenessOrnateness Spatial GrandeurSpatial Grandeur Theatrical Theatrical
FlamboyanceFlamboyance
Baroque PaintingBaroque Painting Originated in ItalyOriginated in Italy Artists worked to Artists worked to
make the viewer make the viewer feel as if they were feel as if they were participating in the participating in the scene by increasing scene by increasing the expressiveness, the expressiveness, especially in especially in religious artreligious art
Nature was copied Nature was copied instead of idealizedinstead of idealized
Artists included:Artists included: CaravaggioCaravaggio GentileschiGentileschi
Features included:Features included: Asymmetric Asymmetric
compositionscompositions Strong contrasts of Strong contrasts of
light and darklight and dark Vigorous Vigorous
brushstrokesbrushstrokes Bold, illusionistic Bold, illusionistic
effectseffects
Caravaggio (1571-1610)Caravaggio (1571-1610) Leading Italian painter of the 17Leading Italian painter of the 17thth century century Recreated Christian narratives like they were Recreated Christian narratives like they were
happening in recognizable placeshappening in recognizable places Used:Used:
Strong light and dark contrastsStrong light and dark contrasts Theatrical gesturesTheatrical gestures ForeshadowingForeshadowing NaturalismNaturalism Pinwheel arrangement of peoplePinwheel arrangement of people
Work included:Work included: The Supper at EmmausThe Supper at Emmaus The Crucifixion of Saint PeterThe Crucifixion of Saint Peter
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653)1653)
Italian female painter following CaravaggioItalian female painter following Caravaggio Challenged female tradition by swaying away from Challenged female tradition by swaying away from
typical female subjects like portraits and still livestypical female subjects like portraits and still lives Subjects were usually biblical heroines in violent Subjects were usually biblical heroines in violent
sceneryscenery Used:Used:
Realistic figuresRealistic figures Contrast in light and darkContrast in light and dark Compositions brought viewer up closeCompositions brought viewer up close Pinwheel arrangement of figuresPinwheel arrangement of figures ForeshadowingForeshadowing IntensityIntensity
Work included:Work included: Judith Slaying HolofernesJudith Slaying Holofernes
Baroque SculptureBaroque Sculpture
Conveyed dramatic movement and a Conveyed dramatic movement and a physical energy by manipulating physical energy by manipulating space and lightspace and light
The favorite ornamental structure The favorite ornamental structure was the fountains, which included was the fountains, which included dolphins, mermaids, and tritonsdolphins, mermaids, and tritons
Sculptors included:Sculptors included: BerniniBernini
Gianlorenzo Bernini (1598-Gianlorenzo Bernini (1598-1680)1680)
One of the top sculptors of the 17One of the top sculptors of the 17thth century century Under his construction, Rome became the “City of Under his construction, Rome became the “City of
Fountains”Fountains” Flamboyant styleFlamboyant style Used:Used:
NaturalismNaturalism Dramatic movementDramatic movement IntensityIntensity Theatrical effectTheatrical effect
Sculptures included:Sculptures included: DavidDavid The Ecstasy of Saint TeresaThe Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
Baroque ArchitectureBaroque Architecture Characterized by:Characterized by:
Dynamic spatial contrastDynamic spatial contrast Inventive illusionsInventive illusions
Italian baroque churches Italian baroque churches were designed in such a were designed in such a way to reflect ideals of way to reflect ideals of Catholic ReformationCatholic Reformation Example: I1 Gesu in Rome Example: I1 Gesu in Rome
designed by Giacomo da designed by Giacomo da Vignola Vignola
Became sacred drama Became sacred drama houseshouses
Baroque church features:Baroque church features: Broad Latin naveBroad Latin nave Domed crossingsDomed crossings Recessed chapelsRecessed chapels
Architects included:Architects included: BerniniBernini
Completed the Piazza Completed the Piazza (public area in front of (public area in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica)Saint Peter’s Basilica)
Shaped in a keyholeShaped in a keyhole Courtyard bounded by a Courtyard bounded by a
colonnadecolonnade Devotional church Devotional church
activities still practiced activities still practiced herehere
BorrominiBorromini PozzoPozzo
Francesco Borromini (1599-Francesco Borromini (1599-1667)1667)
Most daring baroque architectMost daring baroque architect Designed:Designed:
San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (small San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (small monastic church) monastic church)
Deeply cut decorative elements Deeply cut decorative elements Oval floor plan and domeOval floor plan and dome Apex is an illusion to look as if it were deeper than Apex is an illusion to look as if it were deeper than
it actually isit actually is
Andrea Pozzo (1642-1709) Andrea Pozzo (1642-1709) Linear perspective masterLinear perspective master Dramatic foreshadowing masterDramatic foreshadowing master Designed:Designed:
Church of Sant'Ignazio in Rome Church of Sant'Ignazio in Rome Illusion ceiling appeared as if it were Illusion ceiling appeared as if it were
opening up to the heavens opening up to the heavens
Religion during the Baroque Religion during the Baroque PeriodPeriod
A synthesis of the arts promoted the A synthesis of the arts promoted the religious beliefs of Catholics and religious beliefs of Catholics and Protestants Protestants
Religious fervor reached a climax Religious fervor reached a climax during this period, as the Protestant-during this period, as the Protestant-Catholic conflict in Europe erupted in Catholic conflict in Europe erupted in the 30 years warthe 30 years war
Baroque MusicBaroque Music Rome and Venice is were Rome and Venice is were
baroque music flourishedbaroque music flourished Giovanni di Palestrina Giovanni di Palestrina
(1525-1594) created (1525-1594) created polyphonic Masses and polyphonic Masses and motets which featured motets which featured skillful counterpoints, clear skillful counterpoints, clear texts, and regular rhythmstexts, and regular rhythms
Giovanni Gabrieli (1555-Giovanni Gabrieli (1555-1612) created polychoral 1612) created polychoral compositions which gave compositions which gave way to orchestra styleway to orchestra style
Opera was the most Opera was the most extreme expression of extreme expression of baroque musicbaroque music
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) 1643) Created opera by Created opera by
integrating drama, music, integrating drama, music, visual arts and musicvisual arts and music
Wrote madrigals, ballets Wrote madrigals, ballets and operasand operas
Greatest Italian composer Greatest Italian composer of the 17of the 17thth century century
Composed Orfeo, the first Composed Orfeo, the first full length operafull length opera
The first opera house was The first opera house was built in Venice in 1637built in Venice in 1637
Similarities: Baroque Music Similarities: Baroque Music & Art& Art
A wide range of musical dynamics A wide range of musical dynamics comparable to the stark contrasts of comparable to the stark contrasts of light and dark light and dark
Echo effects created from offstage Echo effects created from offstage voices comparable to the illusionism voices comparable to the illusionism of Baroque art of Baroque art
Tonality provided dramatic focus in Tonality provided dramatic focus in music comparable to light providing music comparable to light providing dramatic focus on a composition dramatic focus on a composition
Science During the Baroque Science During the Baroque PeriodPeriod
Discoveries in the sciences allowed Discoveries in the sciences allowed humankind to better understand the natural humankind to better understand the natural universe universe
Foundations developed for: Foundations developed for: Analytical GeometryAnalytical Geometry ProbabilityProbability Integral calculusIntegral calculus
Some great scientists included:Some great scientists included: Galileo Galileo KeplerKepler
Engaged in the study of astronomyEngaged in the study of astronomy Developed the laws of planetary motion Developed the laws of planetary motion
GalileoGalileo
Discovered a number of natural lawsDiscovered a number of natural laws GravityGravity Uniform accelerated motionUniform accelerated motion Oscillation Oscillation
Invented the microscopeInvented the microscope Constructed a telescopeConstructed a telescope Observed the planetsObserved the planets
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The The Baroque PeriodBaroque Period
By Megan LynchBy Megan Lynch