Baroque and Rococco: Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT Mumbai 1

Baroque and Rococco
Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

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What is Baroque
• The term Baroque is used to describe the art, sculpture, architecture and
music of the seventeenth century.
• Baroque originates from the Portuguese word barocco, "a pearl of irregular
form".
• The spirit of the seventeenth century had a strong influence on the arts.

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The Specialty of Baroque
 The arts during the Baroque create a feeling of movement, energy and
tension.
 Strong contrasts of light and shadow and an infinite amount of space are
evident.
 Intense spirituality and realism are usually present.
 "The artist would often portray the figures as individuals with their own
personalities, to capture the inner workings of the mind and to portray the
passions of the soul on their faces”.
 Baroque degraded Renaissance style and was more exaggerated.

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General Background Information
• By 1620 the ideal of female beauty changed- society was tired of the flat
stiff doll look of Spanish influence
• Baroque ideal was a chubby model
• Rounded forms could be achieved by eating more
• During Holland’s Golden Age, prosperity was shown by beautiful houses,

gardens, and abundant meals
• Paintings concentrated on depicting food

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Comparison of Gothic and Baroque
Gothic Ideal Form Baroque Ideal Form

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The famous Artists
• Bernini
• Rembrandt
• Velasquez
• Rubens
• Caravaggio
• Hals
• Vermeer

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Baroque Paintings
• Due to contrasting influences on their lives and art, Baroque painters used
the elements of art differently than their predecessors.
• In paintings, the lines were usually diffused, the color was monochromatic,
and the distance was infinite.
• The contrast between light and shade also became important.
• Magnificent painters came from throughout Europe, barring Germany and

England. Like the Renaissance, the Baroque painters decorated the interior
of palaces and chapels and created grand altarpieces.

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Rembrandt

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Rembrandt
Self portrait (1658)

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The Jewish Bride – Rembrandt Van Rijn, 1665 – 7

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Velazquez
Portrait of Pope Innocent X

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Rubens
• A highly successful renowned artist
• Straining forces and counter forces, tremendous tension.
• Violent action
• Vigorous representation
• Appropriates the Protestant vision of Christ as hero/warrior.

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Rubens, Marie de Medici Arrives at Marseilles

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Rubens, Detail of Marie de Medici

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The Elevation of the Cross – Peter Paul Reubens – 1610 –
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Rubens
The Descent from the Cross

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“The Garden of Love” – Peter Paul Reubens – 1630 – 32

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Caravaggio, Calling of
St. Matthew
Tenebroso: ‘the dark
manner’

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Caravaggio
Conversion of St. Paul

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The Music Lesson –
Jan Vermeer

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Baroque Sculpture
• Baroque sculpture was filled with individuality, more action and

expressiveness than Renaissance style.
• There is also evidence of intense emotional ecstasy and imagination.
• A famous Baroque sculptor, Gianiorenze Bernini, put aspects of his personal

religious expressiveness, as did many sculptors of the time, into his statue of
David.
• This piece is also an example of the contrasts between Renaissance and
Baroque art: Michaelangelo's statue of David is monumental, while Bernini's
is full of energy and action.

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“The Ecstasy of St.
Theresa of Avila”
by Bernini

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Bernini David
• Time is important
• Action explicit and convincing
• Depicting very moment
• Matter in motion through space,
time and light

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‘David’ by Donatello, Michealiengelo, & Bernini

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Bernini

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Architecture during Baroque
• Buildings had many characteristics of Baroque paintings, such as the use of light
and shade, flexibility of form, and movement.
• They were designed to "present a dramatic spectacle to the eye" (Cykel 186).
• The grand stairwells of the Laurentain Library in Florence and the Schloss
Augustburg castle at Bruhl show the differences between Renaissance and Baroque
style. The stairs, which are surrounded by embellished ornamentation, are not the
focus of the room.
• The Baroque style was especially apparent in its church buildings. They are
decorated to show the magnificence of heaven.

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St. Peter’s Basilica
•Design evolved throughout Renaissance and Baroque

•Completed by Gianlorenzo Bernini
–Piazza in front: opening, welcoming

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Versailles

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GRAND COUVERT

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ROYAL CHAPEL

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Important points
• Over Dramatic
• Over expressive
• Climax was chosen for execution
• Encouraged by Roman Catholic Church

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• This style originated in Rome and was associated with the Catholic
Counter Reformation.
• Secondly it is used as a general label for the period when this style
flourished – in 17th century and in some areas in the 18th century.
• Thirdly the term “Baroque” is applied to art of any time or place that
shows the qualities of vigorous movement and emotional intensity.
• Much Hellenistic sculpture can therefore be described as ‘baroque’.

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• In Baroque works colours became brighter than bright, dark became darker
– in short they became most dramatic. Even the simplest subjects were
represented in the most dramatic way. The best examples can be seen in
the works of Rembrandt, Rubens, Bernini.

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Let us recollect
• In a nut shell Baroque period had really ornate, heavy and intensely
dramatic display of emotions via the visual medium, which also was
resonated in the music of that period.
• Famous artists were – Rembrandt, Rubens, Bernini, Hals, Caravaggio,
Vermeer, Bernini.

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Fusion of a number of movements
• Not one style; more of a focus on particular ideas
– Motion and energy
– Dramatic contrast
– Extreme emotions
– Massive proportions

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The style is perceived by some as
– Unstructured
– Over ornamental
– Grotesque
– Decadent

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• Portrayed emotional intensity – facial expression – dramatic movements.
• The skills of reproducing realistic effects in all media were developed.
eg- Marble, Oil on canvas, etching etc.
• Baroque mingled what was real with what was only apparent – created a
feeling of illusion.

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• Made use of contrast colours to heighten the dramatic effect.
• In Baroque painting, the eye is given only a few points of rests – one
form leads to another.
• Even the atmosphere participates in the drama. (A theatrical effect)

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Key Words of Baroque Art and
Architecture
• Decadent -Sensual
• Ornamented -Opulent
• Dynamic -Extravagant
• Brilliant -Versatile
• Colorful -Turbulent
• Theatrical - Expensive
• Passionate - Institutional

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ROCOCO

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• Rococo style was more suitable for the interior decoration, with
asymmetrical curves and pretty decorations.
• Style of art and architecture characterized by lightness, grace, playfulness
and intimacy that emerged in France in and around 1700 and spread
throughout Europe I the 18th century.
• It was a development as a reaction against the weightier Baroque style.

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• It shared with the Baroque the complexity of forms, but instead of solidity
and mass they were more concerned with the delicate play on the surface.
• Rococo style was mainly initially a decoration.

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• Light pinks, greens, blues, and pearly white replaced the heavy gilding
works of the Baroque style.
• The society, which was tired of the heavy grandeur of the Baroque style
demanded a lucid style.

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Most important artists of this period
• Watteau (Painter)
• Fragonard (Painter)
• Gainsborough (Painter)
• Falconet (Sculptor)
• Gabriel (Architect)

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• Though Rococo originated in the purely
decorative arts, the style showed clearly in
painting.
• Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684–1721)
considered as the first great Rococo painter.
• Rococo painters used delicate colors and
curving forms, decorating their canvases with
myths of love.
• Portraiture was also popular among Rococo
painters.
• Landscapes were pastoral and often depicted
the leisurely outings of aristocratic couples.

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Pilgrimage to Cythera by Jean-Antoine Watteau
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Sculpture
• Étienne-Maurice Falconet (1716–
1791) is widely considered one of
the best representatives of French
Rococo.
• The style was best expressed
through delicate porcelain
sculpture rather than imposing
marble statues.
• The themes of love and gaiety
were reflected in sculpture, as
were elements of nature, curving
lines and asymmetry.

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•The Rococo style is considered to be the end of the Baroque period.
•Rococo developed first in the decorative arts and interior design.

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Furniture and decorative objects
•Rococo style took pleasure in asymmetry, this
practice of leaving elements unbalanced for effect is
called ‘contraste’.
•Furniture was lighthearted, physically and visually.
•Symbol of status.
•Metalwork, porcelain figures, frills and especially
furniture rose to new pre-eminence.
• Mahogany was widely used in furniture
construction due to its strength,[absence of the
stretcher]
•Use of mirrors hung above mantels became ever
more popular.
•Carved wood panels, called ‘boiserie’ and inlaid
wood designs on furniture.

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In a full-blown Rococo design, like the Table d'appartement (1730), by
German designer J. A. Meissonnier, working in Paris . Apron, legs,
stretcher have all been integrated into a flow of opposed c-scrolls and
"rocaille." The knot of the stretcher shows the asymmetrical "contraste"
that was a Rococo innovation.

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Interior Architecture
• The architect uses some classical elements - round arches, cornices,
pilasters - and the classical principle of symmetry.
• Typical elements were arabesques, S shapes, C shapes, reverse C
shapes and natural plant forms.

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Baroque and Rococco

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

• Rounded forms could be achieved by eating more

• During Holland’s Golden Age, prosperity was shown by beautiful houses,

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Gothic Ideal Form Baroque Ideal Form

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

• Magnificent painters came from throughout Europe, barring Germany and

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Portrait of Pope Innocent X

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

• A highly successful renowned artist

• Straining forces and counter forces, tremendous tension.

• Appropriates the Protestant vision of Christ as hero/warrior.

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

The Descent from the Cross

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Conversion of St. Paul

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

• Baroque sculpture was filled with individuality, more action and

• There is also evidence of intense emotional ecstasy and imagination.

• A famous Baroque sculptor, Gianiorenze Bernini, put aspects of his personal

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

•Design evolved throughout Renaissance and Baroque

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

• Climax was chosen for execution

• Encouraged by Roman Catholic Church

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

• Not one style; more of a focus on particular ideas

– Motion and energy

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT

Created By: Susmita Das - FC - NIFT