Baroque Art History Research Paper

The Italian Renaissance was a movement that occurred between the 14th and 17th centuries. At the end of the 14th century, a handful of Italian thinkers declared that they were living in a new age. They declared that the barbarous, and unenlightened times were over (also known as the Middle Ages) and that the new age would be a “rinascità” or rebirth of learning and literature, art and culture. The major characteristics or feature of the era when it came to the arts were Classicism, Light & shade, Perspective, Realism & expression, and Emphasis on the human body. When it came to the culture and architecture, and learning they referred to the Greek and romans, and Humanism.

The baroque era was full of influential composers, who would travel all over Europe, hear each-others music, and be influenced from all over the globe. Though music was suddenly more global, differences in nations where still audible in the music (most obviously between France and Italy). One of the era’s most famous composers was Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist and violinist (far left picture below). Born into one of the greatest musical families of the times, and hailed as a “natural genius”, Bach composed over 1,000 compositions in nearly every type of musical form. Though, in his later years, he faced harsh criticism that his work was outdated (due to a new Italian style invading Germany as he wrote and prepared some of his most important pieces), his legacy still lives on strong. Some of his most popular works include “Air on a G String”, “Double Violin Concerto” and the “Brandenburg concerto No. 3”. Another famous composer was the German British composer George Frederic Handel (1685-1759)- middle picture below. Handel composed for every type of musical genre, though he is most famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. He is also credited for creating the English oratorio. Handel turned blind at old age, but continued to compose. Beethoven thought Handel to be the greatest of all his predecessors, and once said that “I would bare my head and kneel at his grave”. Some of Handles popular music

An artist has the ability to connect with one’s audience through their art and the obscure connotations that appear beneath it, not just the image that lies on the surface. Artists Jan Van Eyck and Caravaggio communicate these implications through their work, utilising symbols and motifs. Van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) explores the social status of the time, along with the issue of marriage between two unequals. Caravaggio’s The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (1608) reflects the world of his time’s attitude on violence and the insensitivity of a positive resolution. Although, these two paintings showcase incredible technique and attention to detail, the context is what is integral to the audience’s understanding of their world

Art encourages me to look at the world differently. The statue makes me think of how people were portrayed in the imperial period. The story behind the copy of the original statue of Barberini Suppliant is compelling. It is of a young woman who has been taken advantage of. It is a bold work of art. The original is more detailed and draws more attention then the one I analyzed but both works show and portray different stories. I believe that they made minor changes to the copy but leaving out the body of the woman made it mysterious and hard to analyze. Greek art had a major influence on Roman art and I see elements within these two works. These two works of art emphasized the importance of details. Without details there is a lack of meaning. Without looking at the original work I would not know how to analyze the copy. It looks like a completely different work of art. These two works of art have less in common than I thought. They come from the same time period but they are used and looked at in different

Europe went through an era fueled by the search of truth and grand ambitions. This was a time period was characterized by much advancement in the sciences, politics, philosophy, and the arts.

The Renaissance and the Baroque eras created some of the most famous works of art produced in the world. The two eras expressed differences in style and theme, but they also have many characteristics in common. To better understand the similarities of the eras it will be described by the characteristics, styles and the influences of each; Renaissance and Baroque works of art. Famous artist from the Renaissance era were Leonard da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti. Famous artist from the Baroque era were Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn and Michelangelo Merisi o Amerighi da Caravaggio.

In the early Middle Ages, the human voice, God's creation within us, had been regarded in the sacred realm as being the only instruments we needed. The church considered the use of instruments as profane. There was no musical notation as songs were passed along from person to person by rote memorization. In the secular world, instruments were used at times by jongleurs, trouveres, and minnesingers. Some of those early instruments include the "vielle, harp, psaltery, flute, shawm, bagpipe, and drums (Thomas et al.). " Those instruments were most likely used in an accompaniment capacity, but since musical notation in the secular world was not really happening during this period, not a lot of concrete information is really known about instrumental

Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio’s The Denial of St. Peter depicts the accusal of Peter for being a disciple of Jesus. Painted in 1610 on oil on canvas as was the emerging medium of paintings during the Italian Renaissance. It is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Caravaggio and Southern Italy room in the European paintings department. Caravaggio’s piece is relatively medium sized and place directly at eye-level.

Italian Renaissance revealed more of the humans that most of their art revolved around them nature, and reality painting nude and so forth. The Italian was more of real life art that looked real like I mention. They focused on beauty, mind, and power of humans. I did see how they felt that GOD was important, and people should have a relationship to their faith. Art was more of commissioned by the Catholic Church I think that it was more of seeing a visual picture for the artist. They wanted more than a painting they wanted it to come to life

In tenth grade, I was given the opportunity to travel to Italy for ten days. While I delighted my tastebuds with all kinds of Italian cuisine, my brain feasted on an abundance of knowledge presented in architecture, history, art, and inventions; most of which emerged during the Italian Renaissance. The Renaissance was a time period concerned with exploring the unknown, expressing creativity by means of art, and using imagination, as well as intellectual curiosity to create techniques and theories. For these reasons, if I were capable of traveling back in time, I would visit the time period of the Italian Renaissance.

Baroque era created and composed the musical style of this period. Well-known composers of the Baroque period include Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel, and many more. Vivaldi was well known across Europe for his masterful operas and concertos. He traditionally worked in the genre of opera seria. He was praised during the Baroque era for being the high point of Italian opera. Another great composer during this time was Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach composed skillful works that entailed harmonic organization, rhythms, and forms that shaped much of the Baroque period. His work bridges the gap between the Baroque period and the Classical period. Heavy melodies and the musical sound of this period gradually began to change

The Italian Renaissance one of the astounding, and profound Renaissance that had come across in human history. It is strange and interesting how such a significant cultural change and achievements could be accomplished in the middle ages and early modern Europe. Such Imaginative, and intelligent mind were born in the area. Such as Leonardo da vinci, Michelangelo, William Shakespeare, and none other than Christopher Columbus. Many of these people were famous for their artwork and sculptures and how ingenious and innovative they were, for some for the things they found or created. Leonardo da vinci created the Mona lisa and also the last supper and many more excellent works of art. Which is still critically acclaimed as a marvelous work of art

The presentation drew the attention of countless art critics who were now interested in investigating the final tragic years of a once-great artist. While relatively small, with only sixteen paintings out of the suggested twenty-one that Caravaggio completed after fleeing Rome (twenty-two if you count the Nativity, which was stolen thirty-five years ago in Palermo) the exhibit is still awe-inspiring and emphasizes not only the talent of Caravaggio, but also the speed with which he was able to work. Richard Spear echoes this accomplishment in his article Late Caravaggio: Naples and London, noting, “nearly half of the twenty-two paintings are big, multi-figured canvases. Even granting that Caravaggio painted quickly during his last phase, this is an impressive output over four years from an artist who had to resettle six times in five different cities and spent a month in prison” . The speed at which he created these works, however, was not at the price of their extravagance.

Baroque Period, during which a few of the greatest composers on this planet were born, brought classical music onto a whole new level. The word “Baroque”, which came from the Portuguese for “the imperfect pearl”, implies strange, extravagant and overblown. Toccata, fugue, chorale, ortario, and the concerto Grosso, all of these special musical forms were created and represent this period. The six main characteristics: increased emotional expression, contrast, use of basso continuo, continued harmonic development, use of ornament, and the emphasis of improvisation, molded the unique style of music of the Baroque period.

The era known as the Baroque period includes the seventeenth and most of the eighteenth centuries in Europe. The Baroque style was a style in which the art and artists of the time focused upon details and intricate designs. Their art often appeals to the mind by way of the heart. During this time the portraits began to portray modern life, and artists turned their backs on classical tradition. Much of the art shows great energy and feeling, and a dramatic use of light, scale, and balance (Preble 302). Buildings were more elaborate and ornately decorated. These works of art created history and altered the progress of Western Civilization. Architecture such as the palace of Versailles, and artists like