Baroque Art

Baroque Art (1600-1750)

The term Baroque was derived from the Portuguese "barocco" which means 'irregular pearl or stone'. It describes a fairly complex idiom, originating in Rome which flowered during the period c.1590-1720 and embraced painting and sculpture as well as architecture.

Baroque art was a reflection of society that include the art of absolute monarchies, the art of the counter-reformation and bourgeois art. In Baroque art, there are a few characteristic that make it different from Renaissance art. Baroque art are more into movement, realism in representations, complexity, interest in surprising the audience, have curved lines, concave and convex and also predominance of color and light over drawing.


Architecture

In architecture, the main purpose in Baroque art is to create the sensation of movement in buildings. The characteristics are usually involved curved lines, spirals, elliptic and oval floor plans, solomonic columns , contrast of lights and shadows, recesses and protrusions, split pediments and decorative elements like garlands, medallions or organic motifs.

Examples of architecture in Italy (Gianlorenzo Bernini) : Square and Colonnade of Saint Peter of the Vatican, Baldachin of Saint Peter of the vatican, Scala Regia of the Saint Peter of the vetican and Church of Saint Andrea al Quirinale (Franceso Borromini).

Sculpture

The main purpose in sculpture is to representing movement. It also capturing fleeting moments, provoking surprise and emotion to the audience. Mostly they use the curved lines and folds to intensify the sensation of movement.

Examples of sculpture from this era are Apollo and Daphne by Gianlorenzo Bernini, Ecstasy of Saint Theresa by Gianlorenzo Bernini andFontana di trevi by Nicola Salvi.

Painting

The main features in their painting are including the use of oil painting, predominance of color and light over drawing, chiaroscuro (contrast of light and shadow), realistic representations, movement, complex composition and interest in shocking or surprising the audience.

In Italy, a painter named Caravaggio are famous with his art. For examples the conversion of Saint Paul on the way to Damascus and the Crucifixion of Saint Peter. Also have Peter Paul Rubens from Flanders that was famous with his art such as The three graces, the descent from the cross and Hercules drunk, being led away by a nymph.




St Peter Basilica by Gian Lorenzo Bernini

The Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vatican City is known as Saint Peter's Basilica is the famous Roaman Catholic church in the world and one of the holiest sites in Christendom. St. Peter's Baldachin isa large Baroque sculptured bronze canopy, technically called a ciborium or baldachin, over the high altar of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. 

The baldachin is at the centre of the crossing and directly under the dome of the basilica.The canopy rests upon four helical columns each of which on a high marble plinth. The columns support a cornice which curves inwards in the middle of each side. Above this, four twice life size angels stand at the corners behind whom four large volutes rise up to a second smaller cornice which is turn supports the gilded cross on a sphere, a symbol of the world redeemed by Christianity.








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