The Baroque art movement originated in the 17th-18th centuries, emphasizing motion, drama, and emotion over Renaissance ideals. Religious Baroque art served as Counter-Reformation propaganda, depicting miracles and martyrdom to reinforce Catholic traditions against Protestantism. Secular Baroque art depicted the splendor and absolute power of monarchs. Notable artists included Bernini, Caravaggio, and Velázquez. Spanish Baroque art and architecture focused on Catholic religious subjects through extreme realism and ornate styles.

1. Baroque art
3º ESO History

2. The baroque features
• Artistic and cultural movement. (17th – 18th)
• Aesthetic values base on:
• Motion and complexity: curve and convezx shapes
• Shapes created through light and color
• Preference for realism, emotion and move instead of the idealisation of
renaissance.
• Drama and symbolism
Bernini: “Beata Ludovica Albertoni”

3. Caravaggio: “The entombment of Christ”
17th century
Van der Weyden: The descent of Christ.
15th century

4. Religious propaganda
• Historical context of Counter-
Reformation
• Protestants don`t venerate icons,
don’t accept all the sacraments,
don’t accept the role of Saint
Mary as a mother of God.
• Catholic church reinforce their
traditions:
• Depiction of miracles
• Mystic ecstasy
• Martyrs
• Churches extravagantly decorated,
divine objects surrounded by
grandeur and splendour.
Santa Maria de Los Arcos
(Navarra)

5. Caravggio: The beheading of Saint John
Baptist.
José Ribera: “The martyr Saint
Bartholomeu”

6. Art serving power
• Was the art of the Absolute Monarchies:
• Depictions of the magnificence and absolute power of the monarchs.
• Monumental architecture: Elegant palaces as symbol of royal power.
• In the Protestant Europe art served the rich bourgeoisie:
• Merchants began commissioning works of art.
• Works of art reflected every day life: Portraits, domestic settings, flowers…

7. Vermeer: “The milkmaid”
Dutch baroque.
Oil-on-canvas
Scene of everyday life, high detail. Interior.

8. Diego Velázquez: “The Prince Baltasar
Carlos”
Oil-on-canvas.
Depiction of the power of the absolute
monarchy

9. Jacint Rigaud: Portrait of Louis XIV

12. Architecture and sculpture
• Sense of movement: curved cornices, broken pediments, elliptical and
oval shapes into floor designs.
Borromini: San Carlo alle Quattro
Fontane

13. • Interiors: Effects of light and shade, elaborately decorated , Solomonic
columns and impressive domes.
Bernini: Baldachin of Saint Peter
(Rome)

14. • Rome was the capital of Baroque style due to the architects Bernini
and Borromini
• In Paris huge palaces were built such as Versailles, designed by Le
Vau, Mansart and Le Notre.

15. Sculpture
• Movement and naturalism
• Used curved lines, numerous
folds of clothing make the
sculptures more dynamic
• Marble and bronze most
popular materials
• Favourite scenes:
mythological and religious
• Most recognised artists:
Bernin, Giardon or Pietro
Tacca.
Bernini: Kidnapping of Persephone

17. Bernini: Apollo and Daphne
Pietro Tacca: Phillip IV on horseback

18. Girardon: Apollo Served by nimphs

19. Architecture and sculpture in Spain
• Art commissioned by church, nobles and general public
• 18th century period of splendour in the Spanish
baroque
• Sculpture: polychrome wood, focused on religious
subjects
• Extreme realism: highlighting dramatic expressions,
emaciated faces, pain and suffering
• Main sculptors: Gregorio Fernández, Pedro de Mena,
J.Martínez Montañes, Alonso Cano, J. de Churriguera,
Francisco Salzillo.
Pedro de Mena: Magdalena
penitente.
Gregorio Fernández: Cristo yacente

21. Salzillo: The fall
Alonso Cano: San
Diego de Alcalá.

22. Gregorio Fernández: Christ tide to the column

23. José de Churriguera: San Esteban Altarpiece

24. • Architecture:
• Spanish baroque had more regular structures
• Opulent and splendid façades were added in old buildings
• New convents and churches were built
• Many existing cathedrals renovated
Cathedral of Saint Mary (Murcia)

25. Pedro de Ribera and Hermanos
Churriguera: Real hospicio de San Fernando
(Museo de Historia de Madrid)
Casas Novoa: Obradoiro façade

27. Alonso Cano: Façade of Granada’s cathedral

28. Granada’s cathedral

29. Spanish painting
• Contrast between the decline of the
empire (Politics and economy) and
the emergence of art and literature
(Spanish Golden Age)
• Themes: Religious, still lifes,
portraits, scenes of everyday life.
• Authors:
• 17th century 1st half: Velázquez,
Zurbarán, Alonso Cano, José de Ribera
• 17th Century 2nd half: Influenced by two
schools:
• Seville: Murillo, Juan Valdés Leal
• Madrid: Claudio Coello, Juan Carreño de
Miranda
Zurbarán: Dead nature
Murilo: Two
Women at a
window

30. Diego Velázquez
• Was born in Seville (1599 -
1660)
• Disciple of Francisco Pacheco
• At the age of 24 was
commissioned by the Count-
Duke of Olivares
• Court painter of Phillip IV
• Worked in all genres:
• Mythology, religion, portrait,
landscapes…

31. Diego Velázquez
• Technique characterised
by:
• Masterful use of light
and aerial perspective
• Complex compositions:
different planes and
sources of lights
• Realism of the scenes,
humanises the figures

32. The waterseller of Seville
Buffon Primo

34. Zurbarán
• Was born in Extremadura (1598 - 1664)
• Influenced by Caravaggio’s tenebrism
• Famous for religious paintings and “Still lifes”
San Hugo en el refrectorio de los Cartujos
Still life with vessels

35. Murillo
• Was born in Seville (1617 - 1682)
• Represented reality in a tender
and idealised light
• Themes: Religious scenes
(Inmaculadas), scenes of
everyday life (Pícaros)
Beggar boy (Flea catcher)

36. Ribera
• Was born in Xátiva (1591 – 1652)
• Worked as a painter in Italy, nicknamed as “Lo Spagnoletto”
• Influenced by Caravaggio and the crude drama of Spanish baroque
• Preference for religious themes.
Ticio
The martyrdom of Saint Phillip

37. The bearded woman The clubfoot boy