Baroque And Rococo

Baroque in Italy and GermanyBasic History

Artists are highly competent at drawing and painting the human figure from every possible angle.

Artists delighted in the theatrical and extravagant.

In Italy it came about under the patronage of the Catholic Church.

In Germany it is seen in its churches (very exuberant and festive).

Bernini Most influential artist of this time. A Renaissance Man: sculptor, painter,

architect, stage designer, dramatist and composer.

His work surrounds St. Peter’s in Rome. Piazza and Colonnade of St. Peter’s

Trapezoidal plaza in front of the basilica’s façade.

Opens to a huge oval area framed by massive Doric columns.

In the center stands an Egyptian obelisk. Classic style, but the curves make it Baroque.

Bernini

Ecstasy of Saint Theresa Captures the Baroque spirit. Commemorates a mystical

event involving Saint Theresa.

She floats on a marble cloud that seems to suspend in the air.

Rays of bronze shower down from the ceiling.

Enhanced the sensation of light by including a hidden window to let in real light.

Caravaggio The first giant of Baroque. Was considered a rebel against

conventional society. Focused solely on painting Shocked his patrons by placing

his religious figures in very common, earthly settings.

Created intense drama with naturalism, intense value contrasts and hard-edged painting.

A master of foreshortening, color, light, drama, and still life's.

Used tenebrism – the exaggerated contrast of darks and lights.

Artemisia Gentileschi Followed the style of

Caravaggio Taught by her father and

other important artists. Judith and Maidservant

with the Head of Holofernes Focuses on the escape from

enemy camp, not the killing. Candle is single source of

light, creating deep shadows and brilliant lights.

Dominikus Zimmerman German architect Die Wies

Exterior is plain and influenced by Italian buildings. Interior is a sudden burst of heavenly energy. Color and light combine with swirling decoration causing visual

movement. White walls and gold decoration seem to reflect the brilliance of

the sun.

Baroque in FranceBasic History

Paris began to take over the role of the capitol of the arts.

Louis XIV sets the tone for the arts in France. They favor a more balanced and Classical

Baroque style.

Nicolas Poussin Stressed to elimination of

unnecessary detail and put emphasis on composition, balance and other Classical qualities.

Often constructed a model stage filled with wax figures.

Felt his subject matter should be grand, heroic or divine.

Holy Family on the Steps The subject is divine. The setting is classical. The composition is triangle

and perfectly calculated.

Versailles

Europe’s greatest palace. Originally a symbol of the glory of the king, but later

became a symbol of excesses of the monarchy, and helped bring about the French Revolution.

Louis Le Vau began work; Jules-Hardouin Mansart finalized it.

During peak construction, more than 30,000 men and 6,000 horses were needed to build it.

Would cost 10 billion today. Surrounded by formal gardens and a mile-long Grand

Canal.

Versailles Hall of Mirrors

Has 17 large windows overlooking the park The opposite wall holds 17 large mirrors to offset the windows. The ceiling sparkles with light reflected off the elaborate gold

decoration.

Baroque in Flanders and HollandBasic History Paintings are prominent. Rule changed and the church, the court, and

nobility were no longer art patrons. Middle class buying paintings.

Judith Leyster Best-known

female painter in 17th century.

Self-Taught Self-Portrait

Obvious ease in her pose.

Remarkable animation in both the artist and the violinist.

Peter Paul Rubens Produced over 2000 paintings Assistants painted in still life’s, flowers and landscapes. Charged by how much work he did on the painting. His style was one of swirling physical movement,

marvelous color and energetic brushwork. Castle of Steen

His favorite Landscape with broad receding spaces flooded with light.

Peter Paul Rubens Lion Hunt

Violent activity as twisting, turning bodies of horses, lions and humans are intertwined in a complicated knot

Swords and straight lances lead the viewer’s eye back to center. Foreshortening is handled with mastery.

Jan Vermeer Little is known about this artist. Used camera obscura – similar

to a modern camera, a box with a small opening on one side through which an image was transferred in reverse onto the opposite wall.

Woman Holding a Balance Design elements are carefully

planned Focus is on woman, objects are

slightly unfocused. Light coming from window.

Rembrandt Made over 600 paintings, 300 etching, and over

2000 drawings. Painted many self-portraits.

Rembrandt The Shooting Company of

Captain Frans Banning Cocq. Group portrait Foreground figures are life-

size Painting was once brighter but

soot and oxidation of colors darkened the values – often called The Night Watch.

Was originally larger, but someone cut off 3 feet from the left side and a foot off the right to allow it to fit through doors.

This changes the composition and balance of the work.

Baroque in SpainBasic History

Based on developments in Italy and the Netherlands.

Is the “Golden Age” of Spanish painting.

Diego Rodriquez de Silva y Velazquez Painted the family and court of King Phillip IV

Focused on portraiture and what was real.

Las Meninas (The Maids of Honor) Artist is seen in front of a

large canvas. King and Queen reflected

on far wall in mirror. The five-year-old princess

with her two ladies-in-waiting, her favorite dwarfs and large dog.

Spots, patches of color, and light are used to define forms.

RococoBasic History

Emerges and is centered in France. Focuses on lavishness.

Antoine Watteau An artist above all others in

Rococo. Created shimmering surfaces

that sparkle with life. Work in general shows scenes

of elegant society or comedic actors in park like settings.

The Gamut of Love Successive stages of love:

courtship, marriage, and children. Painted an under color with pearly

whites, blues and pinks. Quickly brushed on trees and

background with a thin wash. Added the important figures in

impastos of jewel-like colors.