What Is Baroque Art?
Baroque Art held its origin within Rome. The reason for its birth though is a bit unique from other arts. Where other forms of art held a more natural evolution, Baroque was more engineered.
The purpose of Baroque Art was to act as a counter movement by the Catholic Church against the Reformation. It was a statement to create influence and project power.
Despite its foundation being within such an influential institution, with time Baroque would evolve with time.
Its beginning can be found within the 17th century after Romanticism. It would remain through the 19th century and still persisted within Spain to the early 20th century.
Characteristics Of Baroque Art
Of the many characteristics which Baroque Art projected, its goal was to create awe and power. This was achieved through heavy symbolism, ornamental objects, and grander than life subjects.
The elements of art were used to create high contrast. Movement also became a core component to this art. Deep colors were common as well as great detail.
Painting focused on the primary colors often placing them side by side. Dramatic contrasts separated Baroque Art from Romanticism and Mannerism.
The faces of subjects were painted to express emotions. This artistic expression broke away from historical norms.
Objects within the paintings were created at different angles to imply movement. The desire was for the work to appear to be in motion.
Each of these served to form an allegory. The heart behind the artwork was to tell a story and influence through it.
Early within the Baroque movement there were attempts to incorporate counter reformation themes into Classicism. A desire existed within some to retain the aspects of classical art despite developing trends.
The Reach Of Baroque Art
The range of this art would reach from painting to stucco, sculpting, ornamental cartouche decoration, and marquetry. While its beginning was focused on counter reformation between 1630 to 1680, its influence grew more broadly with time.
By the late 1700’s its reach spanned from Russia to Spain. Within the 1800’s Latin America saw Baroque Art as an dominant form of art.
Further influence would reach into furniture making. Clearly the broader impact reached well beyond a single idea as a tool to be used to counter the earlier reformation.
Baroque Art would at times weave through other influential periods. The Victorian Era was the most dominant period within its lifespan.
By the 1890’s the shift to Art Nouveau and later Art Deco of 1910 enough momentum within the art world built to break away from Baroque styles. Nevertheless by this time Baroque influence was firmly within the architecture of Europe and South America.
It is clear that the way in with colors were used for Baroque Art would have had some influence within Impressionism. While these two arts are distinctly unique each step is a progression that breaks away from Classicism.
Term “ Baroque Art “ Meaning Across Time
The term Baroque began more as a derogatory term for the art than a distinction of class or style. The word was broadly used by critics to define anything that was odd, exaggerated, or too ornate.
Essentially anything which broke the rules of more traditional art could be classified as Baroque or “grotesque”.
It would take until the late 1880’s for this to change. Heinrich Wolfflin aided in this shift of perspective. It was here that the word was used as a designation for style.
The word Baroque itself stems from Portuguese word barocco. While of Portuguese origin this term gained popularity first within Rome.
Great Baroque Artists Of History
The names of these artists may not be as commonly known today but each held significant influence within Baroque Art.
Caravaggio or by his proper name Michelangelo Merisi, was a rather violent man. Within his time this character would be better known than his art.
Of his notable paintings the work “Bacchus” is a classic example of Baroque Art. While being a talented artist his individual character would catch up with him.
Caravaggio died of “mysterious circumstances” in Tuscany.
Rembrandt is a name all should recognize. While he was born in the Netherlands and his art was inspired from abroad, he never traveled himself.
His life came about at the time of the Dutch golden age and is among the most famous of Baroque artists. Many would aspire to compare to, or be compared with Rembrandt.
Peter Paul Rubens work came to be closely associated with the Counter Reformation Movement. The Baroque Art of is lifetime focused largely on historical and even mythological ideas.
He was Flemish and born in 1577 and loved high society. This greater than life persona and the talent for flamboyancy aided his work in reaching the status he enjoyed.
I lesser known but significant artists named Diego Velazquez was of Spanish origin. He was the court painter for the Spanish King Philip IV.
Velazquez was indeed talented yet his works aided to inspire the coming Realists and Impressionist movements. Diego himself was largely influenced by Italian artists and specifically the art of Michelangelo.
Baroque Art Became A Notable Bridge Between Empires And Art Movements
Baroque Art itself holds a significant place within history aside from the art. Uniquely it crossed borders, ideologies, and was adapted by different peoples across time.
Its lifespan was rather broad due to this reach and influence. With this influence came the ability to influence artists of future movements.
Baroque does not hold the same significance of Classical Art, yet its existence served as a crossroads within time. Despite the formation of the art being that of focus for the Counter Reformation, its end would not be there.
The branches of this art from the root source would impact what would later become modern arts we recognize today. Baroque Art was the fertile ground that allows new ideas to begin to form.
As Impressionists and Realists came to maturity the divergence of style and definition would continue. Each would carry with it the history and influence of this past.