Baroque – 1600 – 1700

In the late 16th Century, a movement in the arts began in Rome, Italy.  It was an attempt to replace the complex and formal Mannerism style of art that was in the forefront during the Late Renaissance period; this change came to be known as ‘The Baroque Era’.  Those years were full of religious and political strife. The Reformation was causing havoc among the Roman Catholic religion, and in an effort to combat the spread of Protestantism, the Counter Reformation was formed. Rome was a strong influential force and the most important center of patronage at that time.  The Church wanted a style of art to lure people back.  Political situations also influenced art. The monarchies of France and Spain realizing the splendor, beauty, and dynamics of Baroque and its suitability to manifest power, encouraged and patronized this emerging new style.

The word ‘baroque’ originally comes from the Portuguese language and references an ‘irregular shaped pearl’. The Renaissance was thought of as a classical period, where the period following the Renaissance didn't seem to meet that measure. This period was only given a name later towards the nineteenth century.

Frans Hals: Porträt eines Mannes im Brustharnisch circa 1639, Oil on Canvas, 86 × 69 cm Washington (D.C.), National Gallery of Art Country: Netherland (Holland) Baroque Period	Jan van Huysum: Flowers and Fruit 1st half 18. Century. Holz, 81 × 61 cm Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum Kommentar: Still life Country: Netherland Baroque Period

 

To understand the Baroque period, we must first understand a little of the religious and political tensions at the time.  This impacts the style and shows us how and why an artistic approach can be dramatically affected by these social changes. The Church was a very powerful entity and one of the biggest patrons of art. Rome was at the center of art. During the seventeenth century artists were being asked by the Catholic Church to create works which were as close to realism as possible. Church patrons required that sculpture and art which served a religious objective be easily understood by the uneducated common people.

The question you may ask is, what function did this serve and why was this so important?
This was a time of religious transformation; the Catholic Church was going through what is known as the period of ‘Counter - Reformation’ which began with institutional change. The ‘Council of Trent’ which was started by Pope Paul III was designed to address corruption in the previous politically biased ‘Renaissance Church’. The council pointed the Church back to the original doctrine of earlier medieval times and it sought new ways to strengthen the relationship between the secular world and the religious orders. i.e. Priests & Monks.
Many of the changes were designed to make the Church more engaging to the common people not only on a psychological level but also in a visually fascinating way as well. In other words they wanted to make the Churches a place where people would want to visit and feel ‘connected with their faith’ while they were there.

The clergy recognized that they could communicate through art by using the more theatrical 'Baroque' interpretation of religious themes. The Church buildings were designed and decorated in such a way, both inside and out to appeal to human emotions and senses. As a result, they strongly encouraged the use of ‘drama’ as a way to invoke spiritual piety and deepen one’s ‘faith’ through adoration and veneration of the Saints, the Virgin Mary and God.
On the other side of the social spectrum, the upper classes who loved to show off their great wealth saw the ostentatious styles of Baroque art and architecture as another means for the public to measure their success.

The wealthy merchants became avid collectors of art. To describe art from the Baroque period we could say the canvas was used to create ‘theater’. The artists of the Baroque period used human drama to be the central focus of their art work.

The Baroque was the age where the oval shape replaced the circle as the center of a composition; cartouches became a common element; flowers were realistic or a stylized fantasy, there was no rule. Compositions became more symmetrical and coloristic and ‘painterly’ effects become prominent.

From Italy, Baroque quickly spread to essentially every country in Europe.  Depending on the particular political, religious, and economic circumstances, each country incorporated its own customs and heritage with Baroque. Naturally there were vast differences between these adaptations, some were more extravagant and others more conservative.  Although every country in Europe, Britain, and the Americas had a different approach or interruption, there was a common thread throughout:  to engage the viewer physically and emotionally.  This was accomplished by a highly developed naturalistic illusion, usually heightened by dramatic lighting effects creating an unequaled sense of theatrically, energy, and movement of forms.
During the middle of the 16th century the Baroque Era gradually gave way to the Rococo, then there were those countries that held onto the style a little longer.

Paint media – oils

Art work –The Baroque artist with his technical brilliance brought together the arts of painting, sculpture, and architecture in remarkable harmony. These artists created new spatial relationships, both real and illusionary with stunning visual effects. Colors were rich and vibrant; foliage was larger, dense, and profuse; scrolls were based on circles and would cross over one another. The total look was rich, elaborate, and very ornate. This art style is characterized by great drama, intense deep color, and dynamic light and dark shadows. In all, the style created an unequaled sense of theatrical energy and movement of forms.   Baroque art was meant to engage the viewer, physically and emotionally. As different as Rembrandt and Bernini (sculptor) were as artists, they have certain Baroque basics in common.  These artists show a preoccupation with the dramatic use of light. Rembrandt, as seen in his magnificent ‘Night Watch’ achieved a superb sense of drama and movement through his use of ‘Chiaroscuro’; it is perhaps the finest example of all time.

Landscape painting was a theme that finally took hold and became popular. In an effort to depict a picturesque life, many artists painted traditional compositions such as scenes of ice scaters on the frozen Dutch rivers, seascapes and countrysides. Jacob von Ruysdael, a master landscape artist, and still considered today as the greatest of the Dutch landscape artists, brought nature to art. It has been said that the Dutch landscape artist Ruysdael, was able to bring the sky, the earth, and the water into a harmonious relationship like no other artist.

References:Baroque by John Rupert Martin, John Rupert Martin

References: The Story of Painting by Sister Wendy Beckett - 0789468050

References: Baroque and Rococo: Art and Culture by Vernon Hyde Minor, ISBN -  0131833634

References: Seventeenth Century Painting by Raymond Cogniat

 

Jan Vermeer, A View of Delft

Jan Vermeer's view of Delft above, is said to evoke a poetic silence like no other landscape. It creates a feeling of ultimate calm and stillness.

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Artists – Rembrandt, Rubens, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Pieter de Hooche, Franz Hals, Jan Steen, Jacob Van Ruisdael

Colour – Strong intense deep color.

Genres - Religious and history paintings, allegories, and portraits were still considered the most important of subjects, but landscape, still life, and genre scenes were also painted by jacob van Ruisdael, Claude Lorrian, Willem Kalf, Jan Vermeer, and many others.

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Title:Baroque and Rococo Author: Germain Bazin ISBN: 0500200181 General Topic: Art History	Title:Baroque   Author: John Rupert Martin, John Rupert Martin ISBN: 0064300773 General Topic: Art History	Title: Baroque and Rococo: Art and Culture Author: Vernon Hyde Minor ISBN: 0131833634 General Topic: Art History

 

Title:Jacob van Ruisdael : A Complete Catalogue of His Paintings, Drawings, and Etchings Author: Seymour Slive ISBN: 0300089724 General Topic: Art History	Title:Pleasant Places: The Rustic Landscape from Breugel to Ruisdael Author: Walter S. Gibson ISBN:  0520216989 General Topic: Art History	Title:Johannes Vermeer Author: by Arthur K. Wheelock, Ben Broos ISBN:0300065582 General Topic: Art History