WEEK 5: High Baroque Sculpture & Painting

Bernini, Cardinal Scipione Borghese, 1630s, made of marble, depicting the cardinal in a lifelike manner.

Bernini, Rape of Persephone, 1620s, high Baroque sculpture, depicts the mythological scene where Hades abducts Persephone, showcasing dynamic movement and emotional expression,

Bernini, Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, Cornaro Chapel, 1640s, dramatic marble sculpture depicting Saint Teresa of Ávila in a moment of divine ecstasy, surrounded by angels.

Pietro da Cortana, Triumph of the Barberini, Palazzo Barberini, Rome, 1630s, depicting the Barberini family's achievements and divine favor.

Bernini, Baldacchino, St. Peter's Basilica, 1620s, monumental bronze canopy over the high altar, symbolizing the glory of the Catholic Church.

Bernini, Piazza San Pietro, 1660s, grand public space designed to enhance the architectural beauty of St. Peter's Basilica (Rome) and enhance the visitor's experience.

Borromini, San Carloalle Quattro Fontane, 1630s, a church noted for its dynamic curved facade and innovative use of space and light.

High Baroque

An artistic style characterized by dramatic expressions, grandeur, and movement

Bust

A sculpted representation of a person's head, neck, and upper chest, often used to convey their likeness.

St. Theresa of Avila

A prominent figure in the Counter Reformation, nun known for her profound spiritual writings

un bel composto

A harmonious blending of architecture, sculpture, and painting

Pope Urban VIII (Barbeni)

The Pope from 1623 to 1644, a patron of the arts who commissioned important Baroque artworks and played a key role in the Counter-Reformation.

allegory (allegorical figures)

Artistic representations that symbolize (religious/moral) concepts

Solomonic columns

A type of column characterized by a twisting shaft, often used in Baroque architecture to create dynamic visual effects.

capitals

The uppermost sections of columns that serve as decorative and structural elements

entablature

The horizontal structure supported by columns, consisting of the architrave, frieze, and cornice

columns

Vertical structural elements that support a building

colonnade

A row of columns supporting a roof

portico

A structure consisting of a roof supported by column, typically forming a covered entrance or walkway.

facade

The front-facing exterior of a building

balustrade

A railing system

cartouche

An ornamental design, often used to frame decorative elements

cornice

A decorative horizontal molding that crowns a building/wall

dome

A rounded architectural feature that forms the roof of a building