Baroque Art
The Baroque Style
It came around late 16th century and had it's peak in the end of the 17th century, preceding Rococo. Baroque's definition marks are very exuberant detail, pompous gracious themes, deep colour and movement.
Coming out of Renaissance Classicism, artists of Baroque tried to differentiate themselves and brought some new standards in the world of art. Colours became deeper and warmer (often red, yellow and blue), to underline their graphic figures of the story on the canvas they used very intense contrasting. The themes became very dramatic and full of action, full of emotion.
They also tried to decentralise the picture to create an atmosphere of movement and instability, added natural variables like wind. Another big component was allegory. There was always a story in the painting, often hidden in symbols or allegorical characters.
Baroque Artists
Caravaggio
On of the most famous painters of all time who died young (38), but left a big mark on the world of art. Very realistic figures in the moments of greatest drama put against a pitch black background still look shocking up to this day.
Rembrandt
Most popular name on that list. “The greatest and the most natural movement” from his own words is what he tried to achieve in his works. Though his greatest achievement is considered to be his portraits where he depicts himself with most realism and naturalism.
Diego Velazquez
Rated as one of the most talented painters ever by Dali, he was another leading figure in Baroque art. He painted all of the Spanish royal family where the Las Meninas masterpiece was born.
Johannas Vermeer
Specialising in the domestic genre, he mostly painted people of middle class. As a true master he worked meticulously on his paintings, often using expensive pigments. He left only few works and at the time of his life was seemingly poor.
Peter Paul Rubens
Ruben's works are often compositionally overwhelming, but that only instigates his dramatic artistic vision and creates a deeper allegorical meaning. He was working on many things like altarpieces, landscapes, portraits, history and mythological paintings.
Baroque Music
The period in music complementing Baroque visual arts was full innovation. New forms, like concerto and sinfonia, opera was also born at that time, same as classical ballet. Louis XIV created first Royal Academy of Music and Royal Academy of Dance. The king of instruments piano was also made at that time!
HERE A FEW NAMES YOU CAN FOLLOW:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Unrecognized at the time Bach has made a foundation for all modern music today. His mathematical approach to harmony created a new ideal standard for mankind and it's musical endeavours.
George Frideric Handel
Often referred as a teacher of Mozart, he was well known for his operas, organ concerts and anthems. As he moved around quite a bit (Italy, England) he's made a great deal of influence on the upper and middle class with his music.
Antonio Vivaldi
Famous creator of Four Seasons that also worked priest for short period of his life had quite a success on the big stages around Europe. Nevertheless he died in poverty and foe the next few hundred years his mastery was forgotten for the humanity.
Baroque Architecture
Originally born in Italy later it spread around the whole Europe. Coming out of Renaissance, Baroque architects wanted to extend the dramatical aspects of the simple and slick renaissance forms. They made halls higher, columns grander and overall decoration level was brought to it's maximum point.
Extensive use of gilding, sculptures of angels hang to the ceiling and walls, huge frescos at the domes created this felling of one looking into heaven from earth. Generally all of these elements added motion and drama to the overall picture, creating an almost theatrical feeling in the churches of this time.
Usual Baroque space structure was oval shaped rooms, sometimes surrounded by other circle shaped little extensions. Domes painted with heavens full of angels and sculpted sunbeams. Grand stairways often occupying the central space became a landmark for Baroque style. They gave an opportunity to look at all elements from different viewpoints. Lots of mirrors were added to give more depth to the space, usually combined with windows.
