M4P2 - Dutch Republic to The Enlightenment

Overview of Art Movements

• Dutch Republic, French Baroque, Rococo, and The Enlightenment.

Peter Paul Rubens

• Influential Flemish Baroque painter (1577-1640).

  • Known for extravagant style emphasizing movement, color, and sensuality.

  • Operated a large studio in Antwerp; humanist scholar and diplomat.

  • Knighted by King Philip IV of Spain and King Charles I of England.

Artistic Influence

• Rubens incorporates influences from the Renaissance, moving through emotional and dramatic artistic traditions.

• Works indicative of Counter-Reformation techniques applied to various subjects.

Notable Works and Techniques

• Elevation of the Cross (1610): Established Rubens as a leading Flemish painter post-Italy.

• Massacre of the Innocents (1611-1612): Inspired by biblical stories, showcasing dramatic movement and chiaroscuro.

• Arrival of Marie de Medici at Marseilles (1621-25): Utilizes open brushwork inspired by Titian, emphasizing loose painting style.

• The Three Graces (1630-1635): Depicts a self-portrait in connection to Rubens' wife, popularizing 'Rubenesque' figures.

Dutch Baroque Art

• Emergence of still-life paintings in Catholic Flanders, with moral undertones questioning the value of earthly riches.

  • Influences of Protestant values evident.

• Personification of Vanitas (1613) by Clara Peeters: Challenges viewers about moral value of wealth.

• Supper Party (1620) by Gerrit van Honthorst: Commentary on the cost of enjoying life.

Rembrandt's Evolution

• The Night Watch (1642): Combines action with layered meanings, utilizing dramatic light and historical context.

• Renowned for depth and focus in his portraits, changing the genre’s dynamics.

Landscape Art Development

• Aelbert Cuyp and Jacob van Ruisdael advance landscape painting as an independent subject, linking nature to Dutch identity and morality.

• Vermeer: Known for studying light, as in Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665), and related technical nuances possibly involving a camera obscura.

French Baroque Influences

• Nicholas Poussin emphasizes classicism and idealized narratives in contexts like Burial of Phocion (1648).

• Claude Lorrain's landscapes present embellished and idealized views of nature.

Rococo Style

• Represents the last phase of Baroque, characterized by whimsy and ornamentation.

• François Boucher, Antoine Watteau, and Jean-Honoré Fragonard exemplify this playful style.

The Enlightenment

• Movement led by intellectuals challenging traditions with reasons, notable figures Voltaire and Rousseau shaping art and society.

  • Voltaire: Advocated for education and progress, criticizing religious traditions.

  • Rousseau: Emphasized emotions leading to Romanticism, promoting a return to nature.

Conclusion

• The shifts in styles and themes from Baroque to Enlightenment reflect societal changes in perspective towards life, morality, and artistic expression.