Art History: Middle Ages to Baroque Era

Middle Ages (476 - 14th/15th Century)

• Characterized by a lack of perspective, often featuring golden backgrounds
• Focused on storytelling rather than realism
• Artistic style was simplistic
• Theocentrism, a god-centered worldview, was prominent

Renaissance (14th/15th - 16th Century)

• Key characteristics include symmetry, idealism, and humanism (humanity-centered)
• Employs linear perspective for realistic representation
• Includes balance as an important element
• Represented by schools, like Italian (humanism, idealism, linear perspective), Flemish (highly detailed, religious paintings and portraits), German (Gothic influence), and Venetian (vibrant colors, sensual)
• Spanish Renaissance painting took a Flemish approach with religious symbolism, portraits, and highly detailed interior details

Mannerism (16th Century)

• Notably characterized by distorted human figures
• Artistic style was elegant
• Dominantly popular in Italian art

Baroque Era (17th and early 18th Century)

• Used diagonals and chiaroscuro (contrast of light and shadow) to create dramatic effects
• Employing sensual and curvy lines to enhance dynamism.

Counter Reformation (Late 16th and 17th Century)

• An effort by the Catholic Church to regain followers through depictions of hardship and trials faced by devotees.

Enlightenment (18th Century)

• Focused on human rights and reasoning as paths towards progress. Application of reason to all aspects of life.

Rococo Art (1720-1760)

• Characterized by frivolous, shallow aesthetics, emphasizing sex appeal and visual beauty for visual appeal to viewers.

Neoclassicism (1750-1800)

• A reaction against Rococo, driven by Enlightenment ideals
• A revival of classical antiquity, focusing on logic, reason, and similar style to Renaissance art.

Romanticism (1770-1830)

• A response to Neoclassicism, emphasizing individuality, freedom, and emotional expression in art.

Origins of Modern Art

• Salons: Annual art exhibitions hosted by art academies, judged by neoclassical standards
• Hierarchy of Genres:
  • History paintings (history, religious, mythological)
  • Portraits
  • Genre (everyday scenes)
  • Landscape
  • Still life.
• Edouard Manet: Challenged artistic conventions and rules, questioning the importance of subjects in artwork

Impressionism (Late 19th and early 20th Century)

• A derogatory term initially, focusing on capturing perceptions of the world
• The evolution of photography fueled alternative expression in the arts
• Capturing the world in the perception of the artist.

Cubism (Early 20th Century)

• Influenced by African art and masks
• Introduced a new way to portray and perceive the world
• Involved fragmented, geometric shapes and overlapping perspectives.

Surrealism (Mid 20th Century)

• Aimed to represent the subconscious world of dreams
• Emphasized the irrational and instinctive aspects of the subconscious
• Influenced by Sigmund Freud's theories.

Major Spanish Artists

El Greco:

• Trained as an icon painter, later adopted Venetian and Mannerist styles
• Known for a two-level structure (earthly and heavenly) in his paintings
• Notable works include The Disrobing of Christ, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, Annunciation, and Crucifixion.

Ribera:

• A Spanish Baroque artist heavily influenced by Caravaggio
• His style was characterized by dramatic chiaroscuro, realism, and emotional intensity.
• Utilized an earthy color palette
• Notable works include St Andrew, Clubfooted Boy, and Magdalena Ventura with Her Husband and Son.

Murillo:

• A Spanish Baroque genre painter specializing in realism and softness.
• His style was warm and realistic, using a warm color palette.
• Known for paintings like Boys Eating Grapes and Melon, Boys Playing Dice, and Immaculate Conception.

Velazquez:

• Heavily influenced by Caravaggio but with lighter tones
• Created intricate, interpretable artworks
• Stages in his career:
  • Seville (genre paintings, religious scenes as everyday life)
  • Madrid (court painter, portraits of royal servants and those with disabilities)
  • Italian Trips (softer brushwork, lighter palettes, focus on bodies)
  • Important works include Old Woman Frying Eggs, The Triumph of Bacchus, The Surrender of Breda, and Las Meninas.

Goya:

• Court painter from 1789 to death
• An enlightened thinker with dark obsessions
• Known for his "Black Paintings" (1820-1823)
• Notable works include La maja desnuda, La maja vestida, La familia de Carlos IV, El Dos de Mayo de 1808, El Tres de Mayo de 1808, and Saturn Devouring His Son.

Sorolla:

• Master of light, working with swift and thick brushstrokes
• Famous for ocean-related paintings and portraits
• Created the "Visions of Spain" series at the end of his career
• Notable works include Triste herencia, Paseo por la playa, Niños en la playa.

Picasso:

• Child prodigy, enrolled in Madrid academy at 16
• Influenced by Velazquez, Goya, El Greco
• Blue Period (1901-1904, somber blues)
• Rose Period (following, circus characters)
• Distorted art, broke norms of artistic standards
• Founder of Cubism
• Notable works include Family of Saltimbanques, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Still-Life with Chair Caning, Guernica.

Miro:

• Spanish Surrealist, Catalan connection
• Childlike, simplistic, and symbolic art
• Notable works include Catalan Landscape, Constellation Awakening at Dawn, and Figures and Dog in front of the Sun.

Dali:

• Spanish Surrealist, mid-to-late 1920s hyperrealism
• Combined hyperrealism and surrealism
• Known for vibrant colors and multiple perspectives
• Notable works include The Great Masturbator, The Persistence of Memory, and Atavistic Ruins after the Rain.

Explore the evolution of art from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance to the Baroque Era. This quiz highlights key characteristics, styles, and notable movements that shaped artistic expression in Europe. Test your knowledge on the important aspects of each period and their distinct features.