Baroque Art: Beauty in Boldness

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Hi everyone, I am back again today with Alphabet B. And B stands for Baroque Art.

Baroque Art was originally found in 1585. However, 1700/1730 is called the Baroque era. As the name suggests. The word “baroque” derives from the Portuguese and Spanish words. It was founded by Michelangelo Merisi Caravaggio. However, the Catholic Church influenced the Baroque Period. The 5 major characteristic of the Baroque form are Motion, Space, Time, Dramatic use of light and passionate theatricality.

 

A Little History:

In the 17th century, Baroque art came to life,

With its fancy style, it banished all strife.

From Italy to Spain, it spread far and wide,

In churches and palaces, its glory did reside.

Baroque was all about drama, you see,

With its bold colors and dynamism free.

It aimed to impress, to make you feel,

With every detail, it made hearts reel.

The Death of the Virgin by Caravaggio, 1601-1606, via The Louvre, Paris

Notable Artists:

Among the luminaries of Baroque’s reign,

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio left his stain.

With his chiaroscuro, he brought scenes alive,

In “The Calling of Saint Matthew,” he made hearts dive.

The Calling of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio

Rembrandt and Vermeer, masters of light,

Their paintings shine, oh what a sight!

With their portraits and scenes of everyday,

They captured life in a mesmerizing array.

“Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Hals: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis,” runs until January 19 at the Frick Collection on the Upper East Side. COURTESY OF THE FRICK

Artemisia Gentileschi, a woman of skill,

Her stories of heroines, they thrill.

In “Judith Slaying Holofernes,” she takes the lead,

With strength and courage, she plants the seed.

Artemisia Gentileschi, «Mary Magdalene Penitent», ca. 1640. Photo: Nasjonalmuseet / Frode Larsen

Rubens and van Dyck, masters of the court,

Their paintings grand, they never fall short.

With their mythological scenes and regal grace,

In Baroque art, they found their place.

Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck, Mucius Scaevola before Lars Porsenna ca. 1618–1620 Szépművészeti Múzeum, Budapest

Poussin and Murillo, each with their own style,

Their paintings evoke emotion and beguile.

With their landscapes and religious themes,

They captured hearts in timeless dreams.

Nicolas Poussin, Et in Arcadia Ego, 1638-39. Oil on canvas, 33-1/2” x 47-5/8”. Musée du Louvre, Paris.
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, The Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables, 1660-1665, Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.

A Poem by Me:

In the Baroque’s embrace, we find,

A world of opulence, a feast for the mind.

With swirling forms and intricate design,

Each masterpiece tells a tale divine.

Through light and shadow, the canvas sings,

In every stroke, the artist brings,

A sense of wonder, a touch of awe,

In Baroque art, we find no flaw.

So let us marvel at its grandeur bold,

In every sculpture, every canvas, behold,

For in the beauty of Baroque’s embrace,

We find a glimpse of heaven’s grace.

So, that’s it for today. The beautiful yet modern Baroque art to date captures our hearts. Tomorrow, I’ll be back with the letter C.

Stay tuned

The Battle of the Amazons (c. 1617) by Peter Paul Rubens and Jan Bruegel the Elder; Peter Paul Rubens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z challenge 2024

 

Featured Image Courtesy: Mili Das

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