The Baroque Period
Late 16th – Early 18th Century
Elements and Themes
• Encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church
• Art communicated emotional religious themes
• Adopted by the nobility to impress society and advertise their power and influence
Mediums
• Painting – Use of rich, deep colors with one source of light.
• Sculpture – Captured the energy and emotion of society. Subjects usually shown “spiraling”. Used lighting and water fountains to add to the emotion.
• Architecture- Big and bold – use of the colonnade and dome.
Rococo18th century France
• From the French word – rocaille (stone/shell garden) and the word baroque
• Reaction to the Baroque, encouraged by King Louise XV• Focused on art and interior decoration – the entire
room as a piece of art.• Use of: natural leafy, shell like textures and curves. Soft
and pale colors – pastels.• Paintings were delicate and soft in form. Use of myths,
cherubs who were often portrayed as impure and playful.
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