The Baroque Period: History, Art, and Social Context

The Baroque Period: Late 16th - 17th Centuries

The Baroque period, emerging in the late 16th century, represents artists' reaction against the Renaissance model, which no longer reflected a society facing economic, moral, and political crises. In Italy, a new conception of Baroque art arose, an artistic style that sought to reflect the pain of human existence through complex and elaborate forms.

Historical and Social Situation

The political scene of the 17th century was characterized by the centralization of power in the King and the rise of the valido (the sovereign's trusted advisor with access to government): figures like the Duke of Lerma. This era marked the time of the last Habsburgs.

Felipe III (1598-1621)

Felipe III demonstrated an inability and disinterest in governing the country. This period was marked by economic crisis.

Felipe IV (1621-1665)

Felipe IV, while more interested than his predecessor, faced a serious economic crisis characterized by tax fraud, corruption, and rural depopulation.

Carlos II (1665-1700)

Carlos II, protected by his mother Marian of Austria for the first four years of his reign, presided over what is considered one of the darkest periods in Spanish history, marked by military losses, economic ruin, and the degradation of religious ideals.

From the 16th to the 17th centuries, Castile and Andalusia were hit by epidemics and crop failures, resulting in a population decrease of over one million people.

Social Classes

Nobility

The nobility lived off politics and the profits provided by their land. Their main interest was to strengthen their traditional privileges, allying with the absolute monarchy and clergy to curb the rise of the bourgeoisie. For the noble class, work was considered a disgrace, and the number of noblemen and gentlemen who refused to work increased despite the economic conditions.

Clergy

The number of ecclesiastics increased, many without a true vocation, finding in the church a means to ensure sustenance and enrichment since they were tax-exempt.

Bourgeoisie

Despite their economic power, the bourgeoisie still had to fight the restrictions imposed by the nobility to protect the gap between social classes. Their aspiration was to live like the nobility.

People

The common people suffered the most severely from the crisis, gradually abandoning rural communities and settling in cities with the desire to improve their lives. This migration led to cities filled with vagrants and beggars, raising both the need for charity and citizen distrust, contributing to a materialistic attitude.