Baroque & Rococo Art History Lecture Notes PDF

LECTURE 2 BAROQUE & ROCOCO  BAROQUE The term Baroque, derived from the Portuguese 'barocco' meaning irregular or asymmetrical shaped pearl Refers to a cultural and art movement that characterized Europe from the early seventeenth to mid-eighteenth ce...

LECTURE 2 BAROQUE & ROCOCO  BAROQUE The term Baroque, derived from the Portuguese 'barocco' meaning irregular or asymmetrical shaped pearl Refers to a cultural and art movement that characterized Europe from the early seventeenth to mid-eighteenth century.  BAROQUE ART Baroque emphasizes dramatic, exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted, detail.  BAROQUE ART is a Western style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from the early 17th century until the 1750s BAROQUE ART (Around 1600 -1750) Martin Luther Origin : Religious Influence - The Catholic Papacy in Europe was facing Reformation by Martin Luther. A German priest who broke out from the Catholic & started the correction in Christian faith in Europe. Against ‘The indulgences’ – Sale & Purchase of faith. Counter Reformation : The Catholics used Art to strengthen their religious stature in Europe. Baroque Art shows grandeur, wealth & power & used its art forms to touch the spirituality & emotion of believers. Motion, Emotional & Dramatic - To evoke a sense of worship & awe for the Almighty. - Serious subject matters & a lot of bloodshed. ( Mostly Religious & Greek Mythology themes.) - Detailed live snapshots of a painted scene. - Usage of Chiaroscuro (Emphasis on light & dark) - Against the artistic style of Renaissance. Artists : Caravaggio, Bernini, Gentileschi Artemisia, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Velasquez & etc. CARRAVAGGIO 1571 – 1610 Caravaggio Da Merisi The Master of Light & Dark.(Chiaroscuro) Dramatic/Intense/Serious subject matter. Drunkard / A violent murderer which caused him in numerous fights & killings that led him to death sentence. Escape from Rome to Naples, Malta & Sicily believed to have died at the shore on his way back to Rome. (Aged 38). RENAISSANCE VS BAROQUE RENAISSANCE : Harmony & Clear Facial Features. BAROQUE : Chiaroscuro (Strong emphasis on Light & Dark.) The only common color scheme used by both era’s artists is Raw Umber. RENAISSANCE VS BAROQUE RENAISSANCE : Harmony & Clear Facial Features. BAROQUE : Chiaroscuro (Strong emphasis on Light & Dark.) The only common color scheme used by both era’s artists is Raw Umber. Chiaroscuro Technique : Strong emphasis on Light & Dark. The Calling of St.Matthews  In the Renaissance, artists focused on order, balance, symmetry, and parallelism. o Planes line up in strong, horizontal fashion, and images are placed proportionately throughout the work, balancing each other regularly against a flat background. Baroque artists focus on contrast, motion, and depth. RENAISSANCE VS BAROQUE Renaissance : Focus on One Point Perspective / Balance Baroque : Diagonal Composition Crowning of Thorns Baroque : Diagonal Composition The Crucifixion of St.Peter Diagonal Composition Painted in 1601. Depicts one of Christ’s disciples, St.Peter being crucified on the cross. Requested to turn his cross upside down because he felt he don’t deserve to die the way Jesus did. Baroque : Close up composition to draw viewers attention to the real scene. The Incredulity of Saint Thomas Judith Beheading Holofernes Judith Beheading Holofernes Painted in 1612 by a women artist named, Artemisia Gentileschi. (Carravagio’s version was painted in 1599) More dramatized & intense. The depiction was from the Book of Judith, in the Old Testament Bible. Assyrian General was seduced by the Israelite women Judith & was beheaded. Revenge Art – the artist was raped & he painted the rapist as Holofernes as an act of vengeance. Tortured – Thumbscrew Needs to go through 7 months trial to test her accusation for being raped. David with the Head of Goliath Paul on the Road to Damascus Head of Medusa Medusa was a beautiful women who devote her life as a maiden to the Greek Temple. She was accused of adultery even though she was being raped by Poseidon. She was cursed by Goddess Athena out of jealousy. Whoever glanced at her eyes will turn into stone. She was beheaded by Perseus (Son of Zeus) using a shield which can reflects her deadly gaze. GIANLORENZO BERNINI 1598 - 1680 Sculptor / Architect Taking part in the Architectural Design of St.Peter’s Basilica after Michelangelo. Created sculpture of David, Ecstacy of St. Theresa, Ludovica, Apollo & Daphne, King Louise the 14th. St.Peters Square (Basilica), The Vatican City in Rome The place where people would gather during the installation of a new Catholic Pope. Showcase of Power & Wealth of the Catholic Church during the Counter Reformation. David  Ecstasy of St.Theresa Theresa of Avila, a Catholic nun. Based on her diary. An Altar piece created during the Counter Reformation. Depiction of St.Theresa in a trance Thrust by an arrow holding by a cupid. Some describe it as an erotic thrust. Spiritual Marriage with Christ. Ludovica Ludovica Albertoni, a pious women, who worked for the poor in Rome. Apollo & Daphne King Louise the 14th (The Sun King) Palace of Versailles (Chateau /Estate) Palace of Versailles (French Baroque) A symbol of French Absolute Political Power by King Louise the 14th. King Louise ordered all his Noble Man to moved in to the Palace. Strict rules & order of living are to be observed to please King Louise. Example : Took 100 man to dress him up / need to grow long pinky to knock the door / Need to bow down each time his meal is served/ Surrender all wealth to him. St. John’s Co Cathedral, Malta To show Majestic & Grandeur Highly Ornate / Complicated Design / Heavy use of Gold Want people to experience a sense of awe Baroque Music Baroque Music Composer – George Frideric Handel, J.S Bach Famous musical piece by Handel, ‘Messiah’ (1742) The song convey the same Grandeur & Majestic of Baroque Art.  ROCOCO Rococo takes its name from the French word 'rocaille' The Rococo style typically depicts scenes of youth, love, and nature, and elicits motion and drama. ROCOCO (Around 1700-1800) ‘Rocaille’ – A form of pebbles, stone & shells for decoration. After the death of King Louis 14th, people no longer want to stay at Versailles. Art of Indulgence of the rich & noble people / The Aristocrats. Playful & Light-hearted (against the formality/grandeur of Baroque) Painting Themes : Leisure, Love, Sensuous & sometimes Erotic. ( Non-Violence / No Blood-shed / Non-Religious) Pastel-like colors – Pink signify as masculine color (Highly used by men) Curve Lines, S-Curve, C-Curve – Apply in Furniture, Rooms & Stairways Design Asymmetrical Design on wall deco (the design varies from both side) Some inspired by the Oriental culture (China & Japan)  Wall Deco Frame Design ROCOCO MIRRORS ROCOCO INTERIOR ROCOCO INTERIOR ROCOCO INTERIOR ROCOCO CURTAINS  Baroque architecture focused on drama and emotion. Whereas Rococo architecture developed out of the Baroque style but focused on lightness and playfulness. Catherine Palace (St.Petersburg, Russia) THE SWING - Painted in 1767 - Painted by Jean Honore Fragonard - The Noble Women secret meeting with her lover. - The girl allows the boy to peek at her. - Girl without undergarment - The Puti/Cupid is asking the viewers to keep quiet.  Close up THE SWING - Painted in 1767 - Painted by Jean Honore Fragonard - The Noble Women secret meeting with her lover. - The girl allows the boy to peek at her. - Girl without undergarment - The Puti/Cupid is asking the viewers to keep quiet. THE SWING featured in FROZEN THE LOVE LETTER - Painted by Fragonard - Boys are not allowed to express their affections / interest to girls before asking permission from the father. THE STOLEN KISS - Painted by Fragonard in the late 1780’s  THE HAPPY LOVERS - Painted by Fragonard around 1765 YOUNG WOMEN PLAYING WITH A DOG