Baroque; a quick summary

The 'Baroque' period is a characteristic style in art and architecture developed in Europe from the early 17th to mid-18th century, emphasizing dramatic, often strained effect and represented by bold, curving forms and elaborate ornamentation. The Baroque style was encouraged by the Catholic church, and used in churches and cathedrals to communicate the religious themes though the dramatic and emotional paintings. The dramatic style of Baroque art and architecture also appealed to the aristocracy as a way to portray wealth and grandeur.

In 1600 the Roman catholic church began an internal reform which addressed questions on representational arts by deciding that all painting and sculptures in church contexts should relate to the illiterate as well as the literate within the church. This led to art that was much more dramatic and portrayed exaggerated emotions and opulence. The new approach was direct, simple and theatrical, making the iconography easy to understand. Gestures and poses used were broader and emphasized, much like the stage gestures in opera which was a major Baroque Art form. The Baroque style featured 'exaggerated lighting, intense emotions, release from restraint, and even a kind of artistic sensationalism' and 'closely tied to the Counter-Reformation, this style melodramatically reaffirmed the emotional depths of the Catholic faith and glorified both church and monarchy'