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Baroque
Baroque
POSTED AUGUST 4, 2018
The earliest instances of Baroque architecture are from the late 16th century. The Baroque architects wanted to move beyond the Renaissance and the strict rules and forms of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The term "baroque"* was originally used in a derogatory manner by critics who thought these innovative architects showed a lack of taste.
The earliest instances of Baroque architecture are from the late 16th century. The Baroque architects wanted to move beyond the Renaissance and the strict rules and forms of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The term "baroque"* was originally used in a derogatory manner by critics who thought these innovative architects showed a lack of taste.
The Baroque style came into its own, though, in the early 17th century and flourished throughout Europe until the late 18th century - particularly in, but not limited to, Catholic countries**. Besides architects, Baroque composers, painters and sculptors created works that were ornate, complex, at times extravagant, and also of great beauty. The baroque style used contrast, movement, exuberant detail, grandeur and surprise to achieve a sense of awe.
The Baroque style came into its own, though, in the early 17th century and flourished throughout Europe until the late 18th century - particularly in, but not limited to, Catholic countries**. Besides architects, Baroque composers, painters and sculptors created works that were ornate, complex, at times extravagant, and also of great beauty. The baroque style used contrast, movement, exuberant detail, grandeur and surprise to achieve a sense of awe.
Piazza Navona in Rome is home to works by Baroque sculptors and architects, including the Fountain of the Four Rivers by the sculptor and architect Bernini and the church Sant'Agnese in Agone by the architects Borromini and Rainaldi.
Piazza Navona in Rome is home to works by Baroque sculptors and architects, including the Fountain of the Four Rivers by the sculptor and architect Bernini and the church Sant'Agnese in Agone by the architects Borromini and Rainaldi.
Erected in the centre of Piazza Navona, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) was designed by Bernini in 1651. The four statues represent the most important rivers of the continents where Christianity had spread; the Nile, Danube, the Ganges and Rio de la Plata. In the middle there is an obelisk measuring 52 ft (16 m), which had originally been part of the Circus of Maxentius, found in the Appian Way Regional Park. [Civitatis Rome] Photo; Italian Ways website
The building of the church was begun in 1652 at the instigation of Pope Innocent X whose family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili, is adjacent to this church. The church was to be effectively a family chapel annexed to their residence (for example, an opening was formed in the drum of the dome so the family could participate in the religious services from their palace) [Wikipedia]
Baroque painting encompasses a great range of styles. Most painting during the period beginning around 1600 and continuing into the early 18th century is identified as Baroque. In its most typical manifestations, Baroque art is characterized by great drama, rich, deep color, and intense light and dark shadows. As opposed to Renaissance art, which usually showed the moment before an event took place, Baroque artists chose the most dramatic point, the moment when the action was occurring.... Baroque art was meant to evoke emotion and passion instead of the calm rationality that had been prized during the Renaissance. Among the most renowned painters of the Baroque period are Velázquez, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin, and Vermeer.***
Baroque painting encompasses a great range of styles. Most painting during the period beginning around 1600 and continuing into the early 18th century is identified as Baroque. In its most typical manifestations, Baroque art is characterized by great drama, rich, deep color, and intense light and dark shadows. As opposed to Renaissance art, which usually showed the moment before an event took place, Baroque artists chose the most dramatic point, the moment when the action was occurring.... Baroque art was meant to evoke emotion and passion instead of the calm rationality that had been prized during the Renaissance. Among the most renowned painters of the Baroque period are Velázquez, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin, and Vermeer.***
Above: Caravaggio, "The Conversion of St. Matthew" (1599-1600) The beam of light, which enters the picture from the direction of a window, expresses in the blink of an eye the conversion of St Matthew, the hinge on which his destiny will turn. ***
Right: Rubens, "Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints" (1627-1628) Rubens was a master at "arranging figures on a vast scale and of using light and colors to increase the general effect". His version of a theme often painted in the Renaissance and earlier, the Holy Virgin Mary surrounded by saints, has "more movement, more light, more space, and...more figures than in any of the earlier ones. Rubens [holds] all the figures together and [imparts to it all] an atmosphere of joyful and festive solemnity." [The Story of Art, E.H. Gombrich]
Baroque composers and musical performers were also great innovators. They created tonality (writing music in a particular key), made changes in musical notation, and developed new instrumental playing techniques. Baroque music expanded the size, range, and complexity of instrumental performance, and also established the mixed vocal/instrumental forms of opera, cantata and oratorio and the instrumental forms of the solo concerto and sonata as musical genres. Many musical terms and concepts from this era, such as toccata, fugue and concerto grosso are still in use today. Dense, complex polyphonic music, in which multiple independent melody lines were performed simultaneously (a popular example of this is the fugue), was an important part of many Baroque choral and instrumental works.***
Baroque composers and musical performers were also great innovators. They created tonality (writing music in a particular key), made changes in musical notation, and developed new instrumental playing techniques. Baroque music expanded the size, range, and complexity of instrumental performance, and also established the mixed vocal/instrumental forms of opera, cantata and oratorio and the instrumental forms of the solo concerto and sonata as musical genres. Many musical terms and concepts from this era, such as toccata, fugue and concerto grosso are still in use today. Dense, complex polyphonic music, in which multiple independent melody lines were performed simultaneously (a popular example of this is the fugue), was an important part of many Baroque choral and instrumental works.***
J. S. Bach (1685-1750) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) are the most famous composers from the era. Below are two beautiful samples of works from the earlier generation of baroque composers, Arcangelo Corelli's (1653 - 1713) "Concerto Grosso in D"**** and Johann Pachelbel's (1653 - 1706) "Canon in D Major"
J. S. Bach (1685-1750) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) are the most famous composers from the era. Below are two beautiful samples of works from the earlier generation of baroque composers, Arcangelo Corelli's (1653 - 1713) "Concerto Grosso in D"**** and Johann Pachelbel's (1653 - 1706) "Canon in D Major"
*Derived from the Portuguese word for a misshapen pear with connotations of absurd or grotesque.
**Catholic church leaders saw baroque as a means to counter the simplicity and austerity of Protestant architecture, art and music
***Adapted from Wikipedia entries
****Corelli established the concerto grosso as a popular form of composition in the Baroque era.
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