17th & 18th Century Art: The Baroque Era

      The Baroque Era was the period of art where everything changed. Art shifted from more calm and dull aspects to a world of vivid color and motion. Inspired by the Roman Catholic Church, the Baroque era concentrated on many religious works of art. The colors had a greater contrast between bold colors and dark and light. Art was now full of life. There was a greater sense of energy, movement, and emotion than ever before. Many of the religious pieces were seen as dynamic and theatrical and could almost be called scenes, rather than just simple paintings.
      One of the most famous interpretative artists of the Baroque Era was Gianlorenzo Bernini. His most admired artwork is the life size marble and gilt bronze sculpture of St. Theresa in Ecstasy in the Cornaro Chapel. Saint Theresa was known for her mystical and spiritual experiences with the love of God, which she describes as “piercing her heart like a burning arrow.” Bernini depicts this in his sculpture by placing St. Theresa on a cloud with an angel holding an arrow and smiling sweetly down at her as if she is withdrawing the arrow with Saint Theresa’s face showing fulfillment. He wanted to portray her spiritual experience through physical movements to show the true intensity of it. The sculpture is made of white marble to show the purity of the angel and chaste nun, St. Theresa.
      Another powerful piece of artwork in the Baroque Era that stood out to me was Peter Paul Rubens', The Raising of the Cross. This is one of the most beautiful and emotionally powerful paintings I have ever seen. This religious piece shows Jesus nailed on the cross being hoisted to an upright position by an army of muscular men. The colors in this piece are so lush and realistic, however the lighting is set up in such a way that the focus is on Jesus Christ. However, the colors do not take away from the subject and are still pleasing to the viewer, showing life and death in perfect harmony.
      Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez is also a famous Baroque painting. This piece shows the young princess of Madrid, Spain and her maids of honor. The lighting is brightest on the little princess, whom is the subject of the painting but the color is not as lush and vivid as in Rubens' The Raising of the Cross. The darker and duller color gives the painting a feeling of mystery. It looks as if the princess is just being waited on however, her eyes are locked on someone, but we do not know whom. Then, you see an eerie reflection of a man and a woman in the mirror behind the young princess who one may believe to be the king and queen.

St. Theresa in Ecstasy. Gianlorenzo Bernini.

The Raising of the Cross.Peter Paul Rubens.

Las Meninas.Diego Velásquez.