AP Art History Baroque Era

1600-1750 1600- a year of the first opera production

The Churches

To encourage the faithful to return to the Catholic Church (mostly as response to Counter-Reformation)

His pictures tended to be large, brightly lit (usually used tenebrism), and set close to the picture lane/ foreground

Was a new type of 3-dimensional composition that intrudes forcefully on the viewers' space. It bends at waist and twists far to one side, ready to launch the lethal rock. Unlike Michelangelo's cool and self-confident lean, sinewy body, this more mature David is all tension and determination, a tightly clenched mouth, and straining muscles. Forces Viewers to take action in the scene. (Also, emotion and clothing)

His buildings had more movement, such as the San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane with an undulating front, deep niches that create dramatic effect of light and shadow, also gives it a windowed niche covered with a pointed canopy.

Her use of contrasting light, and naturalistic yet dramatic figures.

1. Program of renewal by Catholic Church intened to bring believers back to church 2. Canopy, for the high altar of Saint Peter's 3. The strong use of chiaroscuro and artificially illuminated areas to create a dramatic contrast of light and dark in a painting 4. Influenced by Caravaggio's techniques

The term baroque was not a complement - it originally meant overdone It has come to include the following definitions: -Marked by elaborate ornamentation -Aims to create a dramatic effect -Appealing to the spirit through the senses -Enlarged space -Heightened sensuality combined with spirituality -Naturalistic rather than ideal, emotional rather than rational -Conflict, paradox and contrast, heightened spirituality, lively sensuality -Ornate

1. Asymmetrical compositions 2. Powerful effects of movement 3. Strong lighting 4. Dramatic interpretations of subject matter

1. Same as painting 2. rich materials 3. surprising light sources

Classical orders continued to be used, but are arranged in energetic and dynamic ways.

In Catholic countries the church financed most art, in Protestant countries it was wealthy businessmen who financed art.

Date: 1600 Artist: Bernini Medium: Marble Patron: Cardinal Borghese Influence: Hellenistic sclupture Note: Considered first Baroque sculpture Question: What is Baroque about this sculptue? (in moment of dramatic action, twisting, diagonal lines, emotion)

Donatello David Classical David Bernini David

Date: 1645-52 Patron: Cardinal Cornaro Location: The Cornaro family chapel, Rome Subject: A vision experienced by St. Theresa, wherein a angel plunged into her breast a spear symbolizing Divine Love.

Artist: Gian Lorenzo Bernini Location: Galleria Borghese Created: 1621-1622 Media: Marble Context: Bernini depicts the peak moment of the story of the Rape of Proserpina, while the characters' are in mid-action. Proserpina is trying desperately to escape Pluto's grasp as he carries her to Hades, which is represented by Cereberus, the three-headed dog. Bernini crafted this piece to be viewed from the front because it is the "explosive energy" of the horrible event taking place and Proserpina's pathetic attempt to defend herself that is at show.

Date: 1624-41 Location: Saint Peter's Material: Bronze (taken from the Pantheon) Baldachino=Canopy Commissioned by: Urban VIII Note: Located directly under Michelangelo's dome and over the tomb of St. Peter. Symbolism: Bees=Pope's Urban VIII's Barberini family. *Exemplifies the Baroque artists's desire to combine architecture and sculpture so that works no longer fit into one single category or medium. *Twisted columns symbolize the union of Old & Testament *Combines elements of Ionic & Corinthian

Bernini described the colonnade as a pare of arms spread out to embrace visitors to Saint Peter's Basilica. Question: How does the addition of the colonnade to St. Peter's reflect the historical time period?

1. Naturalistic Figures lower class—models were often beggars and prostitutes. 2. Dramatic use of Light (Tenebrism—sharp contrast between light and dark) creates drama 3. Dramatic portrayals of decisive moments 4. Unusual Perspective —brings the viewer into the action

Date:1601-02 Medium: Oil on canvas Location: Rome *According to St John's Gospel, Thomas missed one of Christ's appearances to the Apostles after His resurrection. He therefore announced that, unless he could thrust his hand into Christ's side, he would not believe what he had been told. A week later Christ appeared, asked Thomas to reach out his hands to touch Him and said, 'Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'

Date: 1599-1600 Medium: Oil on Canvas Location: Contarelli Chapel, Church of San Luigi dei Francesi *Subject: The moment Christ walks into a tavern and ask Matthew to be his apostle. Technique: tenebrism *For all his naturalism, Caravaggio also used antique and Renaissance sources

Date: 1600's Artist: Caravaggio

Date: 1600's Artist: Caravaggio

Date: 1600's Artist: Caravaggio

Artist: Caravaggio Not afraid to use pagan Greek and Roman figures in art.

Artist:

Date: c. 1598 Artist: Gentileschi *Caravaggista—followers of Caravaggio's style. Subject: Judith saved her besieged town from the Assyrian army by seducing its general, Holofernes, getting him drunk, and then cutting off his head with his own sword.

Date: (Italian 1593-1651) Artist: Gentileschi, Artemisia

Loc: Rome Date: 1638-41 *Juxtaposes convex and concave surfaces to made the walls seem to ripple. *Robust pairs of columns support a massive entablature, over which an oval dome seems to foat. *Coffers (panels in geometric shapes) filling the interior of the dome form an eccentric honeycomb of crosses, elongated hexagons, & octagons *dome appears to be inflating due to increase in size of coffers as they approach appex. *To fit the irregular site, he created an elongated central plan interior space with indulating walls, whose powerful, sweeping curves create an unexpected feeling of movement.

Location: Il Gesu, one of the most important churches in Rome. Subject Matter: The Last Judgement. The elect rise to heaven, while the damned plummet to the ground. Function: Propaganda for the church during the Counter-Reformation

The Baroque Period in Spain was really the Spanish Renaissance. Literature was dominated by Cervantes Art was a tool for the church during the Counter-Reformation

Patron: Catholic Church Subject: Usually martyred saints Function: Emotionally involve worshippers and encourage greater religious devotion (Counter-Reformation

...

Patron: King Philip IV Subject: Princess Margarita or Velazquez? Why Important: A self-portrait of the artist at work Note the types of images: 1. Image on canvas 2. Mirror image 3. Two painted images

Where do you see the influence of Caravaggio?

Many baroque artists painted portraits for royalty and the wealthy. Velazquez's Las Meninas is a famous example.

By 1609, northern rebels in Flanders won independence from Catholic Church. The north part of Flanders becomes the Netherlands—Protestant The south part of Flanders remains under the power of Catholic Church

1. Muscular Bodies 2. Bright Colors 3. Movement 4. Dramatic Use of Light 5. Allegory

Location: Antwerp--Southern Netherlands (Flanders) Function: High Altarpiece triptych Influence: 1. Michelangelo 2. Caravaggio 3. Titian

Patron: Marie de' Medici Function: Series of 21 huge paintings that celebrate the life of Marie de Medici, who was married to Henry IV, the king of France Technique: Allegory 1. France 2. Fame (with trumpet) 3. Neptune

Allegory about the outbreak of war. 1. Mars 2. Venus 3. Monsters 4. Women with lute 5. Women with child 6. Architect 7. Book on ground 8. Women in black

1609—Rebels from the north of Netherlands won independence from Spain. Country divided in two: 1. Netherlands—North—Protestant 2. Flanders—South--Catholic

It was a true republic—no traditional hereditary aristocracy. Netherlands was governed by merchants.

The religion of the Netherlands was Calvinism ( a sect of Protestantism ) which forbade representations of God or Christ. No aristocracy meant no mythological paintings. Middleclass merchants wanted landscapes, portraits, genre paintings for their home

Patron: Dutch Civic Militia Challenge: How to create a group portrait, where everyone who paid gets equal representation? Solution: Create a portrait that shows individuals in the group from different angles, all with unique expressions.

...

Patron: Amsterdam Civic Guard Subject: An imaginary moment—the civic guard, dressed for war, ready to march. Note: The dramatic use of light Why was this painting unusual: 1. Certain patrons were depicted in shadow. 2. Non civic guard members added in for drama.

Patrons: The Surgeons Guild Why Revolutionary: Rembrandts depicts the guild not posing for a picture, but in action.

How would you compare this to Italian Baroque religious paintings?

Poussin

French baroque painting included many "natural" landscapes, but the only thing you should care about here is Louis XIV building of Versailles.