Born in Italy the Baroque art form spanned from the 1600 to 1750. The style used deep shadowing and strong light contrasts to emphasize certain figures and add depth in the artwork. Movement, energy, tension, emotion, and drama were some of the conveyed senses expressed in Baroque art. Exaggerated decorations, enormous sculptures, and in architecture grandeur and animation were components of the style. Conjuring emotional states through the senses under lied the manifestation of Baroque art. This art form reflected the growth of absolutist monarchies and manifest power. It was associated with religious tensions and was a Counter-Reformation by the Catholic church in response to the Protestant Reformation. The Baroque style was meant to be visually and emotionally appealing to grab the attention of as many people as possible.
Background information from
http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c17th-mid19th/baroque.htm and http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/glo/baroque/ The painting on the top is by Rembrandt, the one below is by Peter Paul Rubens titled The Fall of Phaeton.
Baroque art was reflective of the Maritime Revolution in many ways. Iberian kingdoms of Portugal and Spain sponsored sea voyages that really began the Maritime Revolution. They had great interest in overseas expansion due to their motives in economics, religion, politics, increasing their dominance, and to expand their contacts. Thus art reflected these ideals of gaining wealth and glory. This spring of sea voyages led to many new discoveries. Those out on ships saw and heard many new things they had never encountered before. Like we discussed in class the "unicorns" and "mermaids". Both of these things had rational explanations, narwhals and the sound whales make, but that is to us because we have grown up knowing what whales are. To them they were mythical creatures and things of the unknown, which is why they depicted them in art work.
Baroque art was reflective of the Maritime Revolution in many ways. Iberian kingdoms of Portugal and Spain sponsored sea voyages that really began the Maritime Revolution. They had great interest in overseas expansion due to their motives in economics, religion, politics, increasing their dominance, and to expand their contacts. Thus art reflected these ideals of gaining wealth and glory. This spring of sea voyages led to many new discoveries. Those out on ships saw and heard many new things they had never encountered before. Like we discussed in class the "unicorns" and "mermaids". Both of these things had rational explanations, narwhals and the sound whales make, but that is to us because we have grown up knowing what whales are. To them they were mythical creatures and things of the unknown, which is why they depicted them in art work.
Baroque art was also influenced by the thoughts of what the people in the new world would be like. By discovering the Americas the Europeans had to rethink their entire world view. There were not just three continents anymore(Asia, Africa, and Europe) as they once believed from the Bible's story of Noah and his three son's. This was very frightening and made them question everything they had once known. This fear can be seen in the art work. I think all the dark shading and extreme contrasts of light and dark show a sense of uneasiness and fear. There is also depictions of monster like or quasi humans in much of the artwork showing the thoughts of what the Europeans thought the people in the new world would be like.
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