BAROQUE, ROCOCO, NEOCLASSICISM ART

ART HISTORY, THEORY & CRITICISM

Overview

• Focus Areas: Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism

Baroque Art

Definition

• Term "Barocco" refers to an irregular and imperfect pearl.

Context

• Time Period: 17th Century.

• Historical Background:

  • Roman Catholic Church launches Counter-Reformation in response to the Protestant Reformation.

  • Characterized by complexity and drama, especially in Italian art.

Characteristics

• Emphasis on dynamism, theatricality, and elaborate ornamentation.

• Utilization of a spectacular effect often on a grandiose scale.

Techniques

• Chiaroscuro: Technique of using strong contrasts between light and dark to indicate volume.

• Tenebrism: Technique emphasizing dark shades with very little light, creating a dramatic contrast.

  • "Tenebroso" in Italian means dark and gloomy, obscuring light.

Notable Artists

Gianlorenzo Bernini

• Quintessential Italian Baroque artist known for life-like sculptures of mythological and religious figures.

• David: Represents combat and maximum action. Muscular limbs exhibit dramatic movement.

Michelangelo & Donatello

• Comparison of Bernini's David to works by Donatello and Michelangelo.

Caravaggio

• Full name: Michelangelo Merisi. Paints visceral and bloody biblical narratives.

  • Notable Works:

    • Calling of St. Matthew

      • Mood: Dark, atmospheric; saints and Christ are distinct.

      • Contrast with Medieval period’s depiction of religious icons.

    • Conversion of St. Paul.

Rembrandt van Rijn

• Acclaimed painter and printmaker, known for storytelling through portrayals of diverse moods.

  • Notable Works:

    • The Sea of Galilee

    • The Jewish Bride

Peter Paul Rubens

• Celebrated artist, focusing on religious, historical, and mythological subjects.

  • Notable Works:

    • The Elevation of the Cross

    • The Arrival of Marie de Medici at Marseilles.

Baroque Music

• Composers:

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    • Famous Work: Cello Suite No. 1.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    • Famous Work: The Four Seasons.

  • George Frideric Handel

    • Noted for performances and contributions to Baroque compositions.

Rococo Art

Definition

• A reaction against the rigid and ornate styles of Baroque.

  • Term "rocaille" means rock, and "coquille" means shell in French.

Context

• Emerged from France, incorporating design and architecture during the Industrial Revolution.

  • Favored by high society, characterized as a fluid refinement of Baroque.

Notable Artists

Jean Antoine Watteau

• Innovator of Rococo painting; known for combining lofty content with vibrantly colored landscapes.

  • Notable Work: Pilgrimage to Cythera.

Jean-Honore Fragonard

• Final expression of Rococo style; celebrated for grace and charm in paintings.

  • Notable Works:

    • The Swing

      • Mood: Playful, uses light and color differently from Baroque.

    • The Love Letter.

François Boucher

• Known for sensuous mythological and pastoral subjects.

  • Notable Works:

    • The Triumph of Venus

    • Madame de Pompadour at her Toilette.

Neoclassical Art

Background

• Emerges from the Enlightenment, emphasizing rationality and geometric harmony.

  • Reaction against Rococo's ornate with serious and moralistic subjects.

Notable Artists

Jacques-Louis David

• Advocated for a return to Greek classical ideals through his work.

  • Notable Works:

    • Oath of the Horatii

    • The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons (check for Greek influences).

Architecture

• Notable Structures:

  • Paris Pantheon

  • The United States Capitol Building

  • London Buckingham Palace

  • Arch de Triomphe, Paris.

Present-day Influences

• Examples of contemporary works influenced by Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical styles:

  • Rapunzel (2011)

  • Frozen (2013)

  • Cinderella (2015)

  • Bridgerton (2020).

Characteristics Comparison

• Baroque: Tenebrism, Dramatic, Theatrical, Highly Expressive, Ornamental.

• Rococo: Light and Airy, Feminine, Playful, Ornamental.

• Neoclassical: Clear and Crisp, Patriotic, Simple, Minimal Color, Inspired by Classical Period.