Started in Rome (Italy), and then it

spread across Europe.

Chronology: 17th Century

Where does the name come from? Its not clear…

It might come from the Portuguese word “barroco” name given to irregular &

imperfect pearls.

It might come from the word “verruga” something that is considered defective.

It was first used in the 18th Century, by Neoclassical artists, in a

pejorative way to criticize the extravagant & distorted artistic

forms of the previous century.

C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S :

• PROPAGANDISTIC ART: it tries to

impress, amaze & persuade

people.

Catholic Church used it to

promote its doctrines against

Protestantism.

Absolute Monarchs used it to

display their power & enhance their

authority.

Bourgeoisie used it to

demonstrate their economic success.

• Considered OPPOSITE TO THE RENAISSANCE, despite it also uses

element taken from the Classical art:

Rejects Renaissance principles (proportion, symmetry, simplicity, order…). It rather

prefers theatrical, excessive, pretentious & complex forms.

It tries to amaze & attract people appealing to their emotions, not their reasoning.

• Great interest in DEPICTING FEELINGS, and pursuits DYNAMISM,

MOVEMENT & TENSION.

A R C H I T E C T U R E : C h A r a c t e r i s t i c s

• Use of classical elements (columns, arches,

pediments, entablatures…) but used with total

freedom no proportion (giant order), balance, order,

simplicity… they rather pursue a visual & emotional

impact.

• Taste for curved lines to create sense of movement

& a theatrical effect:

Curved walls to create chiaroscuro effects

(lights/shades)

Broken pediments

Solomonic column (twisted shaft)

Elliptical plans

• Extensive decoration specially the façades, as they

are considered “store windows” to attract people inside

the buildings.

VS

RENAISSANCE

“Villa Capra” or “Villa la Rotonda”

(Palladio)

BAROQUE

“Church of Saint Charles at the

Four Fountains” (Borromini)

Transformations of Saint Peter’s Basilica (Vatican city):

Enlarged the central nave to convert its plan to one of Latin cross

Italy: CARLO MADERNO

Italy: CARLO MADERNO

Transformations of Saint Peter’s Basilica (Vatican city):

Redesign of he façacde of the Basilica use of giant order

Baldachin of St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican city)

Bronze covering structure over the altar supported by huge Salomonic columns

Italy: BERNINI

Most renowned Baroque artist.

Architect & sculptor.

Sponsored by the Popes.

Italy: BERNINI

Baldachin of St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican city)

St. Peter’s Square

(Vatican city)

Italy: BERNINI

Theatrical effect its’ shape symbolizes the big arms of

the Catholic Church that embrace the whole humanity.

St. Peter’s Square (Vatican city)

Italy: BERNINI

The Egyptian obelisk commemorates the martyrdom of St. Peter at the Circus of

the roman emperor Neron.

St. Peter’s Square (Vatican city)

Italy: BERNINI

Giant order

columns

San Andrés del Quirinal (Rome) Muro cóncavo, portada convexa

Italy: BERNINI

San Andrés del Quirinal (Rome)

Italy: BERNINI

San Carlos de las Cuatro Fuentes

(Rome)

Italy: BORROMINI

Famous for his great display

of movement

San Carlos de las Cuatro Fuentes

(Rome)

Italy: BORROMINI

San Carlos de las Cuatro Fuentes

(Rome)

Italy: BORROMINI

San Carlos de las Cuatro Fuentes

(Rome)

Italy: BORROMINI

Borromini:

Church of San Ivo della Sapienza (Rome)

Italy: OTHER BAROQUE BUILDINGS

Borromini:

Church of San Ivo della

Sapienza (Rome)

OTHER BAROQUE BUILDINGS

Borromini:

Façade of the Church of Santa Inés (Piazza

Navona, Rome)

Italy: OTHER BAROQUE BUILDINGS

Borromini: Oratorio de San Felipe Neri

(Rome)

Italy: OTHER BAROQUE BUILDINGS

Baltasar Longhena:

Church of Santa Maria della Salute

(Venice)

Pietro da Cortona:

Church of Santa Maria della Pace (Rome)

Italy: OTHER BAROQUE BUILDINGS

Mansart:

Palace of Versailles (Paris) comisioned by the “Roi Soleil”

France

FrenchBaroque architecture was less complex:

• Straight lines

• Less decoration

France

Palace of Versailles (Paris)

HALL O MIRRORS

(Galería de los Espejos)

Creaban una escenografía auténticamente barroca

para exaltar la figura del Rey Sol:

• 17 ventanales… a los que corresponde otros tantos

espejos en la pared de enfrente.

• Abundancia decorativa.

• Bóveda con pinturas sobre las victorias de Luis XIV.

• Iluminación a base de 3.000 lámparas duplicada por

los espejos.

France

France

Palace of

Versailles

(Paris)

Palace of Schönbrunn (Viena)

Palace of “La Granja de

San Ildefonso” (Segovia)

• Versalles became the model of Royal palace in Europe.

France

“Les Invalides” (Paris)

France

• Commissioned by

Louis XIV, as a hospital

and a retirement

home for war

veterans.

• Burial place of

Napoleon Bonaparte.

ACTIVITY 1

1) What similarities & differences does Baroque art have with Renaissance art?

2) Why do we say that Baroque art was propagandistic?

3) Who were the main patrons of Baroque art?

4) Devise a diagram to summarize Baroque architecture. Include:

• Characteristics• Artists• Examples

Naturalism

Expression of feelings

Movement achieved by dynamic & complex compositions (“figuraserpentinata”), unstable poses, treatment of clothing, excessive gesticulation

Strong chiaroscuro big contrasts of lights & shades to increase dramatism.

Topics:

Mainly religious in Catholic countries (Italy, France, Flanders, Spain...)

New topics addressed to the bourgeoisie (especially in Protestant countries)

Mythological

Scenes of everyday life

Portraits

Landscapes

Still lifes (bodegones)

S C U L T U R E & P A I N T I N G :G E N E R A L C h A r a c t e r i s t i c s

ACTIVITY 2

1) Fill in the chart as you follow the explanation:

2) Match the artists with their characteristics:

Artists Examples

SCULPTURE Italy

PAINTING

Italy

Flanders

Holland

Spain

Caravaggio

Rubens

Rembrandt

Velazquez

Court painter of Felipe IV

Master in painting portraits

Tenebrism & great realism

Movement, colour & voluptuous women

David

Italy: BERNINI

VSRENAISSANCE

BAROQUE

David

Italy: BERNINI

Apolo & Dafne

Italy: BERNINI

Ecstasy of

Saint

Theresa

Italy: BERNINI

Tomb of Pope Urban VIII(Vatican City)

Italy: BERNINI

Portrait bust of

Louis XIV

Italy: BERNINI

Realism: no idealization; reality & nature are represented as they are

(ugliness, pain, deformity…)

Triumph of color over line. Fluid brush-strokes.

Illusion of depth & distance (3D) through aerial perspective & a

magnificent use of chiaroscuro.

Main artists:

Italy Caravaggio

Flanders Rubens

Holland Rembrandt

Spain Velazquez

P A I N T I N G :s p e c i f i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s

The Calling of St.

Mathew(Vocación de San Mateo)

JesusSt. PeterSt. Mathew

Italy: CARAVAGGIO

Tenebrism (very

pronounced form of

chiaroscuro)

Great realism (total

absence of

idealization)

humble people &

environments.

Conversion of Saint Paul(La Conversión de San Pablo)

Crucifixion of St. Peter(Crucifixión de San Pedro)

Italy: CARAVAGGIO

La Flagelación de

Cristo

La Decapitación de San Juan Bautista

Judit y

Holofernes

El entierro de

Cristo

Italy: CARAVAGGIO

Baco

• Still life (bodegón)

• Absence of idealization (vulgar

character, symptoms of

inebriation…)

Italy: CARAVAGGIO

Characterized by:

Movement curved lines,

complex & dynamic

compositions…

Colour clear triumph of

color over line. Fluid brush-

strokes. Brilliant colours.

Curvy & voluptuose

women with white skin

ideal of female beauty

The Three Graces

(Las tres Gracias)

Flanders: RUBENS

El juicio de Paris

Flanders: RUBENS

La adoración de los magos

Flanders: RUBENS

El alzamiento de la cruz

El Descendimiento

María de MediciRetrato ecuestre del

Duque de Lerma

Flanders: RUBENS

The Night Watch

(La ronda de noche)

Holland: REMBRANDT

Famous for his portraits

Los síndicos del gremio de pañeros

Holland: REMBRANDT

Lección de anatomía del doctor Tulp

Selfportraits

Holland: REMBRANDT

Vermeer de Delft everyday life

scenes, portraits, landscapes…

Holland: OTHER ARTISTS

Spain: VELAZQUEZ

Spain: VELAZQUEZ

La Fragua de Vulcano

Spain: VELAZQUEZ

La Rendición de Breda (Las lanzas)

Spain: VELAZQUEZ

Portraits of Felipe IV

& his family

Spain: VELAZQUEZ

Spain: VELAZQUEZ

Spain: VELAZQUEZ

La Venus del Espejo

Spain: VELAZQUEZ

Las hilanderas

Spain: VELAZQUEZ

Spain: VELAZQUEZ

Las Meninas