Art and Music of the 17th
and 18th centuries
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Pay attention, take notes,
and LEARN!!
Baroque Music
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The Music is from Bach’s Brandenburg
Concerto
Bach was patronized by the Margrave of
Brandenburg.
Baroque music will reflect the major
issues of the times. Scientific Revolution
(logic and reason), Enlightenment, and
Absolutism.
Characteristics of Baroque Music
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One mood throughout the piece
Melody repeated over and over
Harpsicord a popular instrument
Music was a diversion in Aristocratic
courts. Most of your patrons were
nobility or royals.
Major artists—Bach, Monteverdi, Vivaldi,
Handel
Mannerism
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Artistic movement in the late 16th century
Bridge between the Renaissance and
Baroque
Represented the religious turmoil of the
times.
Dark, elongated figures, emotional.
Eccentric artists—Rosso lived with a
baboon and dug up corpses.
El Greco
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The Greek –actually from Spain
Elongated bodies—out of proportion.
Busy—twisted bodies and lots of people
in them. Suffering and emotion.
Inner light—in most paintings—light from
within.
Resurrection, The Burial of Count Orgaz,
Baptism of Christ
El Greco
Burial of Count Orgaz
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Notice the elongated
bodies.
Notice—God’s
judgment from on
high (Cath. Church)
Notice the reflective
Monk
Find St. Peter—
holds the keys to
heaven!!
Baptism of Christ
El Greco
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Notice similar things
from the previous
picture.
El Greco
The Resurrection of Christ
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More examples of
Mannerism with the
distinct
characteristics.
Baroque Music
Bach’s Organ Fugue in G
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The next musical piece you are hearing
is Bach’s Organ Fugue in G Minor
Four voices repeating the same melody.
Logic, reason
Same mood—a bit dark and
overpowering.
Baroque Art
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Baroque Art was very unique to each nation so
we will look at the characteristics of Baroque
Art for the different countries
In general
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Advanced techniques and grand scale of Renaissance
with emotion and intensity of Mannerism.
Ornate, passionate, powerful, flamboyant
Art of Absolutism—showed power of state
Emphasis on motion and drama
Italian Baroque
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Two key features of Italian Baroque
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It was to proclaim the power and confidence of
Catholicism. Papacy and Jesuits encouraged the
intensely emotional art to “touch souls and rekindle
faith.”
It used the same emotion and passion to show realism
Major artists
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Artemisia Gentileschi
Bernini
Caravaggio
Gentileschi
Judith Slaying Holosfernes
Bernini
Ecstacy of St. Theresa
Bernini
St. Peters Cathedral (architecture)
The Piazza)
Bernini
David Slaying Goliath (motion—
compare to Michelangelo)
Caravaggio
The Conversion of St. Paul (Emotion)
Flemish Baroque
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Refers to the Southern Netherlands (Flanders).
Catholic area (modern day Belgium). Stayed
with Spain after Dutch Independence.
Energy, Pomp, colorful, flamboyant.
Cheerful Chubby Cherubs
Fat is beautiful—full bodied sensual nudes
Peter Paul Rubens—Marie de Medici (2nd wife
of Henry IV of France) popular subject
Rubens
Marie Arrives at Marseilles
Handel
For Unto us a Child is Born
From Messiah
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The Messiah is a religious opera. It was
written in 1741
Notice how this piece is similar to the
Fugue—repeats the same melody and
has the same mood throughout.
The Hallelujah Chorus is the most
famous piece from the Messiah
Dutch Baroque
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Very different from Flemish Baroque.
Protestant, independent, democratic.
Less religious (think Calvinism austerity here)
and more daily life
Patrons—wealthy middle class merchants.
Motion and still life—capture a moment.
LIGHT SOURCE. Spotlight or window
Rembrandt, Vermeer
The Astronomer by
Jan Vermeer
Trade and banking
were the main
economic activities.
Banking provided
capital for
commercial
ventures.
The Milkmaid by
Vermeer
Still life became a
popular genre in
Dutch Baroque
style. Regents,
merchants, and the
Orange family were
major patrons.
Girl with a Pearl
Earring by Vermeer
Threats from France,
Spain, storms, and
others tended to bring
the Dutch together.
They prided
themselves on the
development of a
unique Dutch culture.
Vivaldi
Spring (The Four Seasons)
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Vivaldi is a popular Baroque composer.
This work was a favorite of Louis XV of
France.
It is a part of the Four Seasons Concerto
for Violin.
Notice it goes fast, slow, fast. Once
again it repeats melody and has a simple
mood.
Also—notice the connection with Nature
(Natural Laws)
The Night Watch by Rembrandt
Wars drained Dutch
resources. Often
they resorted to
breaking dams/dikes
to stave off invasion
from the French.
The Orange family
line died out (after
becoming the
monarchs in
England).
Commercial
ventures lost money
and social mobility
declined.
Rembrandt
Self Portraits (light source)
English Baroque
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Remember the upheaval of the 17th
century (English Civil War, Cromwell’s
puritanical reign, Glorious Revolution)
London fire of 1666—13,000 houses and
87 churches destroyed.
Literary creativity—Shakespeare
Hogarth—social critic
Wren—architect of London
Hogarth, Marriage a la Mode
Ridiculed the nouveau riche (rising middle class)
Hogarth
Gin Lane and Beer Street
Hogarth
Rake’s Progress—seamy side of life
The Rake sits in debtor’s prison
Christopher Wren
Architect St. Paul’s Cathedral
Spanish Baroque
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Spain spent lots of money—especially
the Royal family. High inflation. Spain
goes into economic depression
Heavy emphasis on the Spanish Royal
Family.
Less pompous than the Flemish style
and more realistic.
Diego Velazquez
Las Meninas
Velasquez
1656
Velazques
The Infanta Margarita (Louvre exhibit)
Monteverdi
You are Dead from Orpheus
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Orpheus is an opera.
Orpheus comes from Greek myth—the
gifted musician. His joy is shattered
when his bride is killed by a poisonous
snake.
This is when Orpheus realizes she is
dead.
Mood, emotion, passion should be
evident.
French Baroque
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POWER OF THE KING
France had replaced Italy as the artistic
center of Europe.
Baroque became a bit too showy so they
moved quickly to French Classicism.
Humanistic themes—landscapes,
antiquity.
Versailles—best architectural example
Poussin—favorite artist of Louis XIII and
Louis XIV. French Classicism.
Poussin
Rape of the Sabine Women
Versailles
Versailles