Art History Time Line: Culture/Art Period: Baroque in Italy and Spain. Time: 1600's by: E. Kanski Define the period (purpose of the movement, and main features and characteristics.) * Italy was the religious hub of Europe and during the 1600's Rome ruled over all in not only a religious way, but in its secular dealings as well. Wars raged throughout all of Europe during this time and by 1648 after The Thirty Year War, left Germany in ruins. In Rome, the Pope was the greatest sponsor of art work, for he wished to make Rome the most beautiful city of the Christian world "for the greater glory of God and the Church". By the 1600's artists of great talent centred in on Rome and were employed by the Pope. The artist Bernini, like Michelangelo before him, was talented in sculpture, architecture and brought drawing to a new dimension. Artists like Caravaggio, a painter, brought new life to his works by using live models from the streets, as he painted his religious directly to his canvas. Many of these works are characterized by dramatic lighting from many natural sources, capturing a moment in time, depicting actors full of expression, like in a play production. Works were full of emotion and expression, using diagonal thrust or action. Fresco paintings on ceilings, celebrating various stories from the bible as well as early Greek mythology were depicted in a series of panels, like the Sistine Ceiling. Illusion was a key element in some of these works, using foreshortening and making one believe they were somewhere else, or that images were actually in motion. These were turbulent times and this emotion and agitation was reflected in both the art and architecture of the time. Artists did not have the intellect to understand the new sciences in their art the way Leonardo did, because Newton's ideas, as well as others could not easily be incorporated into the art work of the time. List the main artists: 1. Gianlorenzo Bernini (sculptor, architect) 2. Caravaggio (painter) 3. Artemisia Gentileschi (only female artist) 4. Annibale Carracci (fesco-ceilings) 5. Diego Velazquez (Spanish) Art work # 1 Artist: Gianlorenzo Bernini Title: The Ecstasy of St. Theresa Date: 1645-52 Size, medium, location: Marble Life-size, Cornaro Chapel, Sta. Maria della Vittoria, Rome. Stylistic features that make this work representational of the period: Dramatic, emotional expression, illusion of movement and diagonal thrust of the action. Very rich in materials and realism. Art work # 2 Artist: Carravaggio Title: The Calling of St. Matthew Date: c. 1599-1602 Size, medium, location: oil on canvas, 11' 1" x 11' 5" (3.4 x 3.5 m) Stylistic features that make this work representational of the period: Scene of an event, dark, uses strong hi-lights, suggests diagonal movement and forceful action, and conveys emotion through expression. Art work # 3 Artist: Artemisia Gentileschi Title: Judith and Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes Date: c. 1625 Size, medium, location: oil on canvas, 6 ½" x 4'7" (1.84 x 1.41 m) Stylistic features that make this work representational of the period: Very dramatic lighting and action taking place - the two women hear the sound of someone approaching as they try to carry off the decapitated head. The tension of the situation and the use of female protagonists make this piece quite remarkable for the time. Art work # 4 Artist: Annibale Carracci Title: Ceiling Fresco Date: 1597-1601 Size, medium, location: Fresco on Gallery, Palozzo Farnese, Rome. Stylistic features that make this work representational of the period: Style based on realism and Venetian art, his aim was Roman classicim. Fresco was to depict the wedding in the Farnese Family using the Loves of the Classical Greek Gods. Narrative scenes are surrounded by painted architecture and simulated sculpture. Figures of nude youths in the Classical Greek style are included in the narrative scenes. Illusion is incorporated in all of the frescoes' elements , including the depicted action of thevarious scenes. Art work #5 Artist: Diego Velazquez Title: The Maids of Honor Date: 1656 Size, medium, location: Oil on canvas, 10'5" x 9' (3.2 x 2.7m) Museo del Prado, Madrid Stylistic features that make this work representational of the period: Dramatic, lighting and mystery. This portrait of the artist as he paints the royal family that is very rich in materials and realism. We see the king, who is watching the progress of the work on canvas from the centre door at the back of the room. Note the actual size of the canvas of this piece is acurately represented here. |
