Comments on: The Basics of Art: The Baroque Period

By: John

John — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:50:51 +0000

I have philosopher with an open book in my office. It hangs on the wall right above my desk. I look up from my computer and there it is. I love that print.

By: Dere

Dere — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:48:58 +0000

Great article. Us men need more articles like these. Culture, fine art, and beauty are completely lost on the contemporary male.

By: Chiefltd (Twitter)

Chiefltd (Twitter) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:45:26 +0000

Great post.
We heard men started to grow moustaches in the 19th century, therefore we’d be interested in a similar article regarding the Art period and movements that started depicturing men in moustaches ;-{)

By: Colin

Colin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:10:26 +0000

What a wonderful break in my afternoon, thank you! This is a great series, and I eagerly await the next chapter.

By: Marshall Jones

Marshall Jones — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:01:58 +0000

Thank you for these brilliantly simple posts of a very difficult subject of which to gain any knowledge. Best are the examples broken down and then one built upon another to make the contect even easier to grasp. This is a great series for AoM and I look forward to many more.

By: Vince Granado

Vince Granado — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:03:34 +0000

Great article! I am a huge fan of Bernini and Carvaggio. I just wanted reinforce your point about the tie of theology and baroque; with the Council of Trent an emphasis on ‘personhood’ of Jesus was emphasized. The incarnation of Jesus and him being not only fully divine, but also fully human was a very big theme which was not as emphasized in earlier periods of art. This did not simply end in Jesus, but to other religious figures as well. Look at Carvaggio’s paintings of the various religious figures; I believe he captured the essence of the barouque spirit. Humanity in its reality. Flesh, blood, lively, dirty, whatever. It was so real and so ‘human’. It’s like you could touch the painting. And I believe that’s what the Catholic Church was trying to accomplish at the period, was to make the divine more real to us. More accessible. More human.

By: Andrew Klusman

Andrew Klusman — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:25:32 +0000

@J Michael: I would like to think it did. There are numerous Baroque churches in Italy and Austria and Bavaria.

@Brett: GREAT article.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:09:02 +0000

I love this series on Art. Thanks!

By: J Michael Craig

J Michael Craig — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:34:38 +0000

I would be interested if this discussion reached into the realm of architecture as well.

By: billy d

billy d — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:06:43 +0000

Great post, especially on the background of the Counter-Reformation and Trent!

You have neglected to mention the Spanish Baroque, though! Diego Velazquez and Bartolome Esteban Murillo are two examples of Counter-Reformation art in Spain, which is an important center of the Baroque movement.