Ly Nguyen
January 2, 2013
AP Art History
Essay 5
Baroque Art
Power and authority are an important part of art in the Baroque period. During the
seventeenth century, Baroque art expanded across Italy, Spain, Flanders, the Dutch
Republic, France, and England. Each region had their own individual way of depicting
so, but all similar in the way they incorporate their viewers. Some examples are Las
Meninas c. 1656 CE from Spain by Diego Velazquez, Saint Peter’s Vatican City c. 15061666 from Italy by Bramante, Michelangelo, Della Porta, Maderno, and Bernini, and
Self-Portrait c. 1630 from the Dutch Republic by Judith Leyster.
The Las Meninas depicts power and authority not only to the artist, but also the
patrons. On the wall in the painting hangs a mirror faintly reflecting the king and queen.
The direction of everyone’s stare within the painting is looking directly at the viewer.
This effect puts the viewer into the seat of the king and queen. This gives the viewer a
sense of power when looking at the portrait and reinforcing the act of looking—of seeing
and being seen. Having been able to do so lets the viewer participate in the work as the
subject of Velazquez.
Also within the portrait, the viewer can see Velazquez is painting a picture of the
king and queen. Putting into consideration that the king and queen are being painted, their
attention is forced to be drawn to the painter—Velazquez. While everyone in the portrait
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is staring at the king and queen, the hierarchy is looking at the painter giving the artist a
sense of authority.
Velazquez sought to depict his elevation to knighthood as first painter to the king
and as chief of steward in the palace. He did so by painting a cross of the Royal Order of
Santiago. Having been able to take a glimpse into the life of hierarchy within the portrait
allows the viewer a measure of power. Following up on the illusion of sitting in the king
and queens seat, the viewer is then noticeably in the presence of the princess on her
wedding day allowing the viewer to be part of an important event.
Meanwhile, Baroque architecture in Italy also became a form to depict power and
authority. Saint Peter’s Vatican City’s shape alone holds many meanings. The piazza
designed by Bernini is in the shape of a skeleton keyhole referring back to the key to
heaven. Spectators that enter the piazza is given the power to teeter on the entrance to
heaven.
Not only does the piazza play a role as creating an entrance to heaven, but the
observer is also walking into an embrace. The piazza consists of two semicircles feels
like an embrace when standing in the center. Both semicircles act as open arms wrapping
around the viewer, so every direction the viewer is looking, they are able to see and feel
Saint Peter’s embrace—a privilege and power.
The Church itself took many decades and architects to complete. The sheer size of
the building alone is a indication of the power and authority the church has. The size
alone has the power to present an awe-inspiring and authoritative vision of the church.
Saint Peter’s Vatican City radiates an enormous symbolic presence of Saint Peter
himself.
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All the while, art in the Dutch Republic has also grown. Leyster was one of the
most famous female artists of her time, studying at the Academy and showing her skills
in her Self Portrait. Within the portrait, the viewer can see that she is seated in front of a
painting on an easel; she’s holding a palette and a paintbrush making it clear that it is her
creation. She leans back to allow the viewer to evaluate her work, showing off her
mastery and power over her paintbrush.
Following up on this idea, due to the fact that Leyster is showing off her work,
she is also incorporating the viewer. Doing so, she hands over the power to the viewer to
make an opinion of her work. Good or bad, she allows the viewer to admire her work
within her work showing her authority over her portrait and allowing her power to pass to
the viewer.
Leyster also shows authority in the way she positions herself in her portrait. With
and easy smile and relaxed posture, Leyster gives an image of self-assurance. To put it
simply, she’s talented, and she knows of it by challenging the viewers’ gaze with one of
her own. Her authority in this picture rules out all the other opinions everyone else may
have.
During the Baroque era, Europeans depicted power and authority in their art
pieces in different ways varying in different regions. They gave the viewer power by
incorporating them in their art pieces and can be seen in Las Meninas where the viewers
are seen as the king and queen, Saint Peter’s Vatican City where the piazza embraces the
viewers, and Judith Leyster’s Self-Portrait in which she allows the viewer a glimpse of
her work and the power to judge her piece. Although from different regions, the Baroque
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art pieces carry on similar elements when incorporating power and authority, one in
which, is allowing their viewers to be apart of their works.