Test 2 Flashcards
Baroque Period
1600-1700
Giancarlo Bernini, St. Teresa of Ávila in Ecstacy, marble, Italian Baroque
Synthesis of architecture, sculpture, and painting all designed by Bernini, however the painting was executed by a different artist.
Architecture is a temple front facade made up of columns, an entablature, and a pediment.
Sculpture is of St. Teresa known for her many mystical experiences. Here she is reclined on clouds made of stucco with her eyes closed and body limp with an angel about to plunge an arrow of devine love into her heart.
The drapery on her body shows decorum but is also expressionistic to show the frenzy in her body.
Gianlorenzo Bernini, David, marble, Italian Baroque
Sculpted during the Catholic reformation, David is covered up and shows decorum.
David’s body shows dynamic motion and involves the viewer. His muscles are flexed and his face shows expression. His body is idealized, however his face is realistic, possibly modeled after Bernini himself.
David is seen in a different part of the story than when usually shown. He is in the process of hurling the stone that kills Goliath rather than in the contemplative state after Goliath’s defeat.
David is identified by the rejected armor used as a support under him and his original role with the harp.
Annibale Carracci, Triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne from Farnese Gallery Ceiling, fresco, Italian Baroque
The classical style was artists that were going against mannerism and were looking back and emulating the High Renaissance masters. As such the figures in the painting are idealized with muscular naked bodies.
Depicts a mythological love scene from Ovid’s Metamorphosis and is within an illusionistic picture frame.
Shows the procession after the marriage of Baccuhs and Ariadne. Silenus is seen riding a donkey being helped to stay on by satyrs and putti.
Although this style was simultaneous to Caravaggio, it is very different. There is a setting with depth and atmospheric perspective, where objects fade as they recede into the background, and a lack of tennebrism. There is even lighting and everything is fully lit.
Caravaggio, Bacchus, oil on canvas, Italian Baroque
This painting is a still life with fruit and a close up figure in a generic setting.
Shows a classical subject matter with intense realism. There are imperfections in the leaves and fruit and Bacchus does not have an idealized body and is shown with a farmer’s tan.
The subject interacts with the audience with a strong gaze, offering the viewer wine.
Caravaggio paints from a model with no prepatory drawings.
Caravaggio, The Calling of St. Matthew, oil on canvas, Italian Baroque
This is considered a biblical and history painting as the subject is a story from the New Testament. History paintings were seen as the highest form of painting.
Uses tenebrism, a black background and well lit figures, which shows dynamic contrast. The light cast is seen as a spiritual or devine light.
The story is from the Book of Matthew when Jesus calls Matthew to follow him. This shows a theme of conversion.
It is unknown who is St. Matthew and whether the scene takes place inside of outside. This shows a theme of ambiguity.
Caravaggio, The Conversion of St. Paul, oil on canvas, Italian Baroque
This is considered a biblical and history painting as the subject is a story from the New Testament. History paintings were seen as the highest form of painting.
Uses tenebrism, a black background and well lit figures, which shows dynamic contrast. The light cast is seen as a spiritual or devine light.
Story from the Book of Acts where Saul has just been knocked off the horse by the light of Jesus. This shows the theme of conversion.
The style of the painting shows intense Realism. Shown by the age of the man guiding the horse, the musculature and hairs of the horse itself, and the dirt seen in Saul’s fingernails and the feet of the man guiding the horse.
Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Beheading Holofernes, oil on canvas, Italian Baroque
This is considered a biblical and history painting as the subject is a story from the Old Testament. History paintings were seen as the highest form of painting.
Uses tenebrism, a black background and well lit figures, which shows dynamic contrast.
Artemesia is possibly considered a proto-feminist. She was raped by Augustino Tossi, a man hired by her father to teach her perspective painting. She painted 6 versions of this story and many other strong female heroes overcoming tyranny.
Similar but more realistic that a version of the same subject by Caravaggio. This version shows Judith and Abra struggling a lot more to remove Holofernes’ head.
Artemisia Gentileschi, Susannah and the Elders, oil on canvas, Italian Baroque
This is considered a biblical and history painting as the subject is a story from the Old Testament. History paintings were seen as the highest form of painting.
Artemesia is possibly considered a proto-feminist. She was raped by Augustino Tossi, a man hired by her father to teach her perspective painting. She painted this and many other strong female heroes overcoming tyranny. This painting was possibly in response to the harassment she received prior to the rape.
Showcases her ability and strong understanding of the female nude, even at 17. The woman is realistic and not idealized. Her breast is naturally pendant showing gravity, and she has an areola.
This story shows two men who spied on Susannah as she was bathing in her garden. They are blackmailing her for sexual favors or they will say that they saw her committing adultery. She goes to trial but the elders are found out and sentanced to death. This is an example of virtue from Jewish traditions.
Juan Sanchez de Cotán, Still Life with Quince, Cabbage, Melon and Cucumber, oil on canvas, Spanish Baroque
Influenced by Caravaggio but Cotán did not go to Italy. Learned about Caravaggio’s work through prints as Spain was part of the Habsburg Dynasty which also included Naples, which is where Caravaggio was working, and part of the Netherlands.
This painting shows still life elements placed on a window frame. The elements are arranged in an arch and not in the same vertical plane. The quince is furthest back, each moving closer. The window is an interior space with the larder, a cool dark place to store food, in the background.
Uses tenebrism, a black background and well lit figures to show dynamic contrast and keep focus on the fruits and vegetables. The black background possibly suggests infinite space, a void, and death.
Imperfections in the fruit and vegetables may possibly show vanitas or the transience of life. May also just be regular fruits and vegetables.
Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas, oil on canvas, Spanish Baroque
This painting is a portrait but is also a genre scene showing daily life.
In the painting we see the Princess Infanta Margarita in the center, two maids attending to her, two dwarves with a dog in the front, a nun and a person of the court behind them, Velázquez on the left, and José Nieto, the royal door opener in the doorway.
The King and Queen are present but in an unknown location. They are seen on the back wall in what is either a mirror or a portrait. A red cloth of honor is seen in the background to give them prestige.
This painting takes place in Velázquez’s studio.
In addition to a portrait, Velázquez uses the painting to raise the level of paintings and show that it is a liberal art and that thought goes to it.
Peter Paul Rubens, The Raising of the Cross, oil on panel, Northern Baroque
Example of Dynamic Baroque, a form with lots of dynamic movement suggested by the use of diagnal lines. Movement is also shown in the leaves and with the incoming storm clouds
Painting is idealized with the men hoisting the cross having bulging and prominent muscles.
Example of a triptych, Left panel shows spectators and mourners of Christ. Right panel shows the other two people about to be crucified and Roman soldiers.
This is a loose brush painting with sketchy lines and bleeding paint which adds to the dynamic element.
Rembrandt, The Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq (The Night Watch), oil on canvas, Northern Baroque
Rembrandt was a master painter and printmaker from the Netherlands known for portraiture. He was known for his ability to portray psychological insight of the subject.
This painting is a group portrait showing the civic guard, a militia group which protected the city. 18 men paid to have their portrait included however more people were added to make the painting more interesting.
Throughout the painting, it shows the main three stages of using a firearm, loading, shooting, and clearing the pan to fire again.
Uses color, lighting, and diagonals to move out eye around the paintings.
Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance, oil on canvas, Northern Baroque
Due to the Protestant Reformation which rejected religion in art, new subjects came about including genre paintings which were scenes of daily life.
This painting shows a woman standing in front of a window weighing her jewelry, an example of typical Dutch middle class life.
An example of vanitas, an idea that life is fleeting and not to get too caught up in material wealth and knowledge.
The painting behind her is of the Last Judgement in which people’s souls are weighed to go to heaven or hell
Pieter Claesz, Still Life with Tazza, oil on canvas, Northern Baroque
Due to the Protestant Reformation which rejected religion in art, new subjects came about including still life which were artfully arranged objects on a table.
Still lifes would show material culture of the time and were sought after by the prosperous middle class.
Still lifes were realistic and painted with plain backgrounds so that they objects would be the focus.
Meant to portray vanitas, an idea that life is fleeting and not to get too caught up in material wealth and knowledge. The dangling lemon peel represents the passage of time.
Georges de La Tour, Mary Magdalen with the Smoking Flame, oil on canvas, Northern Baroque
Although the work was Northern Baroque and during the Protestant Reformation, France was Catholic and thus this is a Christian piece.
Shows Mary Magdalen as a hermit pondering her sins after the death of Christ and living with the bare necessities.
Uses tenebrism, a dark background and well lit figures, which shows dynamic contrast. Some details are not there and it loses some of its realism.
An example of momento mori, the skull as a reminder of death.
Meant to portray vanitas, an idea that life is fleeting and not to get too caught up in material wealth and knowledge. This is shown by the books on the table.
