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Art, Issues, and Innovations in the Baroque Era

REFORMATION 1517- Martin Luther posts his "95 Theses" on the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral Cathedral 1520-Luther is excommunicated and begins a "protest" movement against the Catholic church later called "Protestantism" -among his concerns was the increasing distance of the lay person from understanding of the Bible and the Mass. Luther maintained that the lay person was no longer playing an active role in the Church and was increasingly removed from understanding the Scriptures because of increasing mystery and ritual. Luther saw visual forms as playing a role in this process of increasing obfuscation. -Luther advocated hymns as a better way to communicate hard-to-understand mysteries of the Church and made music an integral part of Protestant Church services.

The Last Judgement of Christ Italian Mannerism fresco 1541 by Michelangelo

COUNTER REFORMATION 1541- Michelangelo's Last Judgement of Christ is unveiled in the Sistine Chapel. Christ is shown as a young man and the scene is dominated by nude figures. Many criticize the work as an example of the licentiousness that has pervade the church. 1545-The Council of Trent convenes to discuss and consider Luther's Theses. 1563- The Council of Trent finishes their work and makes art an integral part of the process of helping the layperson to understand the Scriptures.

The Madonna of the Long Neck Italian Mannerism oil on wood 1534 by Parmagianino

MANNERISM -was a style that followed the Italian Renaissance which put emphasis on the individual style of the artist. -Most of the works from the period were constructed through the use of conventions Parmagianino, Madonna of the Long Neck, 1534 -elongated the human figure in order to make it more elegant -criticized in its time for putting too much emphasis on "style' Michelangelo, 1475-1564 Last Judgement of Christ, 1541, fresco -this Sistine Chapel work has an individualized style and some painterly characteristics -nudity in the work was questioned and eventually the figures were covered.

The Ecstacy of St. Teresa Italian Baroque sculpture 1645-52 by Bernini The Calling of St. Matthew Italian Baroque oil on canvas 1599-1600 by Caravaggio

BAROQUE IN ITALY Sculpture and Architecture Bernini -St. Peter's Collonade, Rome, begun 1656 -collonade was created for growing numbers who visit the St. Peter's Basilica -Baldacchino, St. Peter's, Rome, 1624-33, gilded bronze, 95' high -was created to create a more human scale in the interior of St. Peter's -The Ecstacy of St. Teresa, 1645-52 -created inside St. Peter's -David, 1623, marble, lifesize -a more dynamic and literal version compared to Michelangelo and Donatello Painting -Baroque painting had many of the same attributes that Baroque sculpture and architecture had: theatrics, sexual innuendo, and violent subjects. Giovanni Pietro Bellori was an influential Baroque art critic who fervently believed that "ideal" and Classical forms were more desirable than naturalistic or "more realistic" images. Annibale Carracci(1560-1609) ideal and Classical -a favorite of Bellori because of his use of "ideal" forms. Carravaggio (1571-1610) naturalistic and "real" -Italian painter who influenced most of the painters of his time through his use of great contrasts and theatrical lighting -was a murderer and had a violent nature -in works are characteristic dark backgrounds and bright highlights called tenebroso -also uses many diagonals which makes a composition more active Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) -a master female artist from the Baroque era -did Biblical and mythological subjects which portrayed violent themes

Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus Flemish Baroque oil on canvas 1618 byPeter Paul Rubens Woman Holding a Water Pitcher Dutch Baroque oil on canvas 1664-5 by Vermeer Holy Trinity French Baroque oil on canvas 1664 by Nicholas Poussin

BAROQUE IN EUROPE Flanders Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) -wealthy trader, diplomat, and artist from Flanders -influential in art because he bucked trends and worked in a painterly fashion (the brush strokes were active and easily recognized in the painting. Rape of the Daughters 0f Leucippus- c.1635, oil on canvas, 6.5'x 8' -active painting with sensual overtones -mythological subject at the time of the Reformation -soft, painterly look The Netherlands Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-69) -conveyed character and drama through his use of dark and light Self Portraits- conveyed these ideas of character in light and shadow -they also chronicle of a person1s life, because he did them each year -Rembrandt was an excellent printmaker. He used a process called etching. This is a process that involves scratching into a metal plate, which has been covered with an acid-resistant coating, then dipping the plate in acid until it mars the surface of the plate. The plate is then washed, ink is pushed into the grooves left by the acid, and finally it is printed on paper. Jan Vermeer (1632-75) -master of light and perspective. -works were technically correct to the finest detail -Dutch banker Woman Holding a Water Pitcher- c.1664-5, oil on canvas, 16"x 15" -exceptional perspective, convincing 3-D space -dramatic lighting -high detail France Nicholas Poussin -used Classical subject matter -allegorical painter (he used a picture of mythological scenes to convey ideas about Christianity) allegories are intended to convey an idea through analogy and metaphor. -saw a connection between art and music -Most painters of the 17th and 18th Centuries allied themselves with either theRubenists (bright vibrant color, painterliness, and exuberant brushwork) or the Poussinists (classical, idealist, and used a limited palette). Spain Diego Velasquez -court painter for Philip IV of Spain

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