The Baroque: New Saint Peter's and the Reorganization of Rome

Baroque in Rome was brought about in part by the __________ (1545-1700), the Catholic Church’s response to the Protestant Reformation.

Counter Reformation

Council of Trent (1545-1563)

proclaimed that architecture and art had no role as media for propaganda

What was the goal of art in the Baroque period?

to restore Catholicism’s predominance and centrality 

Il Gesù

Artists: Giacomo della Porta (façade) and Giacomo della Vignola (plan)

1568 / Mannerist

Patron: Cardinal Alessandro Farnese

• scrolled buttresses are reminiscent of Santa Maria Novella in Florence

• this kind of façade will become very influential

Façade for New Saint Peter’s Basilica

1612 / Baroque

Artist: Carlo Maderno

Patron: Pope Paul V

• departed from 16th century Renaissance designs

• had to work with existing buildings

• appears wider than was originally intended

Baldacchino (Saint Peter’s Basilica)

1624-1633

Artist: Bernini

Patron: Urban VIII

gilt bronze

• Solomonic columns

Piazza in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica 

1656-1667

Bernini

Patron: Alexander VII

• arms embracing the faithful

• keyhole shape 

• illusion that façade is less wide

• saints literally looked up to

Saint Teresa of Avila in Ecstasy

Bernini

1645-1652 / Baroque

Bernini

Marble, stucco, gold

Patron: Cornaro Family

Church of Our Lady of Victory, Rome

• teatrum sacrum

• participation in his artwork

• time of controversy regarding transubstantiation

Baroque

designation for the art of the period covering roughly 1600-1750; no one style or set of stylistic principles; succession of phases in international development; dynamism, dramatic theatricality, elaborate ornamentation; spectacular effect

Four phases of Baroque:

1. 1590-1625: Early - essentially naturalistic, originates in Italy (Caravaggio)

2. 1625-1660: High - sensualistic (Bernini, Borromini)

3. beginning in 1630: Classicist - order, clarity, composure (Poussin)

4. 1660-1725: Late - Louis XIV style in France

Counter Reformation

from 1545-1700; the Catholic Church’s response to the Protestant Reformation which led to Baroque art among other things

obelisk

a tall four-sided monolithic pillar with a pyramidal top - symbol of the Egyptian sun god Re

Solomonic columns

twisted columns thought to be reminiscent of the columns that came from the Temple of Solomon

Cathedra Petri

the throne of Saint Peter made of stucco and marble by Bernini in 1666 which contains a relic of the true throne of Peter; commissioned by Alexander VII

piazza

an open public area in a town or city especially in Italy that is usually surrounded by buildings

teatrum sacrum

literally “sacred theater”; using a mix of art and architecture it creates a theatrical space for holy acts carried out by sacred actors (ex: saint teresa in ecstasy)