The “Baroque Period” began in Rome, Italy around 1600 and spread throughout Europe, ending in 1750. The word baroque refers to something extravagantly ornate, elaborate, or intricately detailed in style, whether it be painting, sculpture, architecture, music, literature, or fashion.
This period in history began when Catholic popes started funding the construction of grand cathedrals with magnificent architectural features to draw in more people.
Some of the famous artists who lived during the Baroque period were: Rembrandt, Velázquez, Caravaggio, Rubens, Vermeer, Van Dyck, Poussin and others.
But the Baroque period didn’t just give us amazing artists, we also gained some of the most brilliant composers of all time such as Bach, Vivaldi, Handel and Pachelbel. It was truly a time of growth and expansion in all areas of the arts.
Baroque style spread from Italy into France, then throughout other parts of Europe. The notion that monarchs in these countries ruled by a “divine right” from God was widespread.
In Catholic countries, the art was mainly religious in nature. While in Protestant countries, religious art and imagery were forbidden. Consequently, paintings in these countries consisted of portraits, still life, landscapes, and scenes from everyday life.
It was in Holland, or the Netherlands, where Rembrandt painted, so we categorize him under Dutch Baroque, which is often called the “Dutch Golden Age.”
New Methods in Art
New art techniques that began or were perfected during the Baroque Period were:
- Chiaroscuro, or “light and dark” which was the use of light and shadows in paintings, producing rounded, sculpted-looking figures. This was not necessarily a new technique, since Da Vinci used it during the Renaissance, however, Baroque artists perfected and made extensive use of it.
- Tenebrism from the Italian word, “tenebroso” meaning “dark.” This method, similar to chiaroscuro, is characterized by deep shadows – usually a completely black background – contrasted with a strongly illuminated foreground lit from a single light source.
- Impasto an Italian word meaning “dough” or “paste,” is a technique in which the paint is laid thickly onto the canvas in such a way that the brush strokes remain visible. Impasto came into its own during the Baroque period and was used by Rembrandt, Velázquez, and others to depict aged, wrinkled skin, sparkling jewels, rich fabrics, or shiny armor.
Comparison Between
Renaissance and Baroque Art
Art from the Baroque period is characterized by drama, rich, deep colors, and intense light and dark shadows. The settings were extravagant with intricate ornamentation.
Artists sought to capture the climax or most dramatic point of an event. They showed the action occurring, which was intended to evoke intense emotion and passion. They wanted to draw the viewer into the scene as a participant.
Whereas Renaissance art has clearly defined planes, with each figure placed in isolation from the other, Baroque art has a continuous overlapping of figures and elements.
Common themes in Baroque art include grandiose visions, ecstasies and conversions, martyrdom and death, bright light, and intense psychological moments. The Baroque period brought art to a grand and elaborate place!
To learn more about the lives of famous artists from the Baroque era, check out the lessons from our Art Appreciation Curriculum for Rembrandt van Rijn.
For further study, check out these books about the Baroque era:
Great Painters
Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters (Bright Ideas for Learning)
Rembrandt and his world (Immortals of art)
Baroque and Rococo (World of Art)
Age of Baroque (Landmarks of World Art)
Famous Paintings: An Introduction to Art for Young People
Lives of the Great Artists
3-D Human Body
Open Me Up
(The following books contain photos of the art pieces from this time period. If you are concerned with your children viewing works that contain the naked human form, you may want to preview these before sharing them.)
National Gallery of Art, Washington: One Thousand Masterpieces in Full Color
Larousse Encyclopedia of Renaissance and Baroque Art by Rene Huyghe (1985-02-03)
Vocabulary
Baroque architecture sculpture
portrait landscape emotion
spatial illusionism gilt
conceit grandeur chiaroscuro
arcade convex concave
entablature cornice balustrade
realism facade trompe-l’oeil
perspective ensemble pictorial
theatrical element stucco
sensuous impressionistic expression
portico axis coffered
lattice-work
Activities
Define and study the traits of the Baroque Art Movement. (Language Arts, History, Art)
Baroque art became popular in the 1600s, starting in Italy. Locate and label Italy on a map. (History, Geography)
Study a general historical overview of the 17th century. Make a timeline of important events to help you understand the culture of the time. (History)
Baroque art was filled with depictions of action and movement. Study some photos of Baroque paintings. Pay careful attention to how the artists create the illusion of movement. (Art)
Draw a scene of your own depicting movement such as angels flying, people fighting, frightened crowds, etc. Make it as lifelike as possible. (Art, Science)
Look through some anatomy books to grow better acquainted with the human form. (Science, Art)
Baroque sculptures were often made of rich materials. Find out what those materials were. Were there any advantages to using these? (Art, Science, Critical Thinking)
Study The Entry of St. Ignatius into Heaven by Andrea Pozzo. Write a paragraph describing everything you see. (Art, Language Arts)
Learn about “foreshortening,” a drawing technique used by Pozzo in the aforementioned painting. Try to incorporate it into a drawing of your own. (Art, Language Arts)
The portrait Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez differs from most portraits. Since movement was so prevalent in the Baroque style, this portrait is full of movement. Study this painting. (Art)
Some famous Baroque artists include: Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Caravaggio, Annibale Carracci, Andrea Pozzo, Nicolas Poussin, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, and Diego Velázquez. Choose one and write a report. Be sure to include a list of their most famous pieces. (History, Art)
Do an in-depth study of Rembrandt with the Rembrandt van Rijn Study by Masterpiece Society. (The URL can be found in the resource list.) (Art, History)
One of the most well-known artists of the Baroque period was Rembrandt van Rijn. He was born in Holland in 1606. Locate and label Holland on a map. (Geography, History)
Read a biography of Rembrandt or one of the other artists of this period. (History, Art)
Rembrandt liked to practice by drawing pictures of himself making faces in the mirror. Stand in front of a mirror with a pad and pencil and draw a picture of your expressionless face. Try to draw exactly what you see. (Art, History)
Spend the next several days drawing pictures of yourself making faces in the mirror. Some expressions you may consider are: angry, scared, shy, embarrassed, sad, sick, ecstatic, surprised, and proud. (Art)
Since photography had not yet been invented in Rembrandt’s time, he was often hired for portraits. Find someone willing to be a model and sketch a realistic portrait of their face. (History, Art)
When was photography invented? (History, Science)
Today when someone uses the term “baroque,” they’re usually referring to something that is very ornate and detailed. Does this fit well with the Baroque style of art? (Language Arts)
Like Baroque paintings and sculptures, Baroque architecture was also extremely intricate and extravagant. Study some photos of Baroque palaces and cathedrals across Europe. Though their styles may differ, their common trait is their complex adornments. (Art, Architecture)
Design your own Baroque-style palace or cathedral. (Art, Architecture)
Caravaggio was another popular painter in the Baroque movement. People were amazed at how realistic his paintings were. Study his pieces The Cardsharps, The Supper at Emmaus, and The Inspiration of St. Matthew. (Art)
Find a photograph you’d like to replicate in a painting. Make it as realistic as possible. Be sure to include shadows and tiny details. (Art)
Caravaggio’s style influenced an entire generation of artists across Europe, known as Caravaggisti. Research this and present an oral report. (Language Arts, History, Art)
Diego Velázquez, another Baroque painter, painted portraits of the King of Spain and his family for over 30 years. On a map, label Spain. Then research the other countries affected by the Baroque art movement and label them on the map as well. (History, Geography)
Velázquez once painted Pope Innocent X. The Pope referred to this painting as “too truthful” because it revealed too much of his true character. Study this painting. What words would you use to describe the Pope’s countenance? (Art, History, Language Arts, Critical Thinking)
Create an art gallery with all of the pieces you created during this study. Invite friends and family and host an art show. (Art, Social Studies, Life Skills)
Create a power point presentation or an oral report on the artists and artwork of the Baroque period. Present this at your art show. (Language Arts, History, Art)
