Mr. Wright's Art Class: Living with Art, Chapter 17 - 17th & 18th Centuries, Part 1

William Wright・2 minutes read

The 17th and 18th centuries, known as the Baroque era, saw the rise of powerful monarchs in Europe, expansion of colonization, and a shift in artistic styles towards more emotional and theatrical expressions. Prominent figures like Bernini, Caravaggio, Artemisia Gentileschi, Rubens, and Louis XIV played significant roles in shaping the Baroque era through their unique contributions to art and culture.

Insights

  • The Baroque era saw a shift towards dramatic and emotional art styles, departing from the scientific and balanced approach of the Renaissance, with prominent figures like Bernini and Caravaggio revolutionizing sculpture and painting through techniques like tenebrism.
  • Artemisia Gentileschi's resilience in the face of sexual assault and her dedication to portraying powerful women in her paintings challenged stereotypes, highlighting the significant role of female artists in the Baroque era and their impact on art history.

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Recent questions

  • What characterized the Baroque era in art?

    Dramatic, emotional, and theatrical styles.

  • Who were some prominent figures in the Baroque era?

    Bernini, Caravaggio, Artemisia Gentileschi, Rubens, Louis XIV.

  • What architectural styles emerged in the Baroque era?

    Grand, asymmetrical designs and undulating facades.

  • How did Baroque art differ from Dutch Baroque art?

    Baroque art was dramatic, Dutch Baroque focused on everyday life.

  • What was the significance of Louis XIV in the Baroque era?

    Known for grand ceremonies and Palace of Versailles.

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Summary

00:00

Baroque Era: Art, Monarchs, Colonization, Tenebrism

  • Chapter 17 covers the 17th and 18th centuries, known as the Baroque era, following the Renaissance.
  • Europe sees the rise of the Age of Kings, with monarchs like Frederick the Great, Teresa of Austria, Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, and Louis XIV of France becoming more powerful.
  • Colonization expands in America, the Caribbean, South America, and Africa during this time.
  • The Baroque era is characterized by dramatic art styles, shifting from the Renaissance's scientific and balanced approach to a more emotional and theatrical style.
  • Bernini, a prominent figure in the Baroque era, is known for his dynamic and theatrical art, including sculptures like his rendition of David and Saint Teresa in Ecstasy.
  • Saint Peter's Basilica, redesigned by Bernini, showcases the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque era with its grand and asymmetrical design.
  • Borromini, a nephew of Moderno, creates the San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane chapel in Rome, featuring an undulating facade and an oval dome, representing a shift in architectural style.
  • Caravaggio revolutionizes Baroque painting with the introduction of tenebrism, a dramatic use of light and shadow, as seen in his painting "The Entombment of Christ."
  • Tenebrism emphasizes figures engulfed in shadow with selective illumination, creating a striking visual effect in Baroque paintings.

14:45

Baroque Art: Light, Dark, and Power

  • Tenebrism is a technique involving dramatic contrast between light and dark, exemplified by Caravaggio's works.
  • Caravaggio's "Calling of Saint Matthew" showcases the use of light as a physical element in the painting.
  • Caravaggio pays attention to detail even in the dark areas of his paintings, like subtle shapes finishing characters' legs.
  • Characters in Caravaggio's paintings, despite depicting ancient scenes, resemble modern Italian or European individuals.
  • Artemisia Gentileschi, a prominent Baroque female artist, faced sexual assault but bravely fought for justice.
  • Artemisia's victory in court allowed her to use her rapist's face as a model for the villain in her paintings.
  • Artemisia created 57 artworks, with 49 featuring powerful women as protagonists, challenging stereotypes.
  • Rubens' style, known as "Rubenesque," emphasized muscular and voluptuous figures, distinct from Italian Baroque.
  • French Baroque art focused on classical landscapes with symmetry, order, and balance, as seen in the depiction of the ashes of Phocas.
  • Louis XIV, the Sun King, was a central figure in the Baroque era, known for his grand ceremonies and the construction of the Palace of Versailles.

29:08

Art and History of Versailles Palace

  • The Palace of Versailles had limited bathrooms despite its large size, leading to periodic cleanouts of hidden areas where people relieved themselves.
  • The exterior of the palace featured numerous sculptures, including a Bernini sculpture of Louis XIV that he disliked for its accuracy, leading to its replacement.
  • The Hall of Mirrors within the palace is a significant attraction, known for its ornate crystal and gold decorations, mirrors lining the walls, and historical events like the Treaty of Versailles signing in 1919.
  • Diego Velasquez's painting "Las Meninas" showcases symbolism and drama, with intricate details like maids attending to the princess, hidden figures, and the artist painting himself within the portrait.
  • Rembrandt, a Dutch Baroque painter, focused on portrait painting with a softer tenebrism style, portraying regular people like Captain Banning Cook's civic guard in "The Night Watch."
  • Dutch Baroque art emphasized genre painting, depicting scenes of everyday life with regular people, contrasting the mythological and royal themes prevalent in other art forms.
  • The secularization of art in Northern Europe is evident in artists like Vermeer and Roysdale, who painted landscapes and city views without religious or royal themes, focusing on everyday scenes and regular people.
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