Defining Characteristics of Baroque Art and Architecture

Cultural Context of the Baroque Movement

From an artistic and cultural standpoint, 17th-century Europe was characterized by the Baroque movement, a current that rejected the symmetry, order, and balance established during the Renaissance.

Baroque art emerged in Italy in the late sixteenth century and flourished throughout the seventeenth century. While the term "Baroque" has been revalued today, it originally held a derogatory meaning. Critics viewed it as a "deformación" (deformation) of Renaissance classical art, considering it "uneven," "irregular," and "raro" (strange).

General Features of Baroque Art

• Ideological Function: Baroque art represents the power of absolute monarchs and embodies the belligerence of the Catholic Church against the Protestant Reformation (Counter-Reformation).
• Formal Goal: The style aims to "impactar" (impact) and "envolver" (envelop) the viewer. It is often described as a "teatral" (theatrical) style.
• Integration of Arts: A primary intention was achieving a perfect integration of architecture, sculpture, and painting, especially within religious buildings, to convey a powerful religious message.

Defining Characteristics of Baroque Disciplines

Baroque Architecture

Baroque architecture continued to utilize the same fundamental elements as the Renaissance but developed new models that deviated significantly from classical canons. Key characteristics include:

• Complex Floor Plans: Use of octagonal, elliptical, Greek cross, and Latin cross layouts.
• Dynamic Structures: Curving walls, broken entablatures, and pediments that describe curves and reverse forms.
• New Elements: Introduction of innovative features, such as the Solomonic column (a twisted shaft).
• Ornamentation: Dramatic development of decorative elements (e.g., garlands, medallions).

The most prominent representatives of Baroque architecture include the Italians Bernini, Maderno, and Borromini.

Baroque Sculpture

The main features of Baroque sculpture are summarized below:

• Materials: Primary materials used are marble, alabaster, and bronze.
• Movement and Emotion: A strong focus on movement, excited gestures, and the depiction of violent passions.
• Key Artist: Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the artist who defined the new style in sculpture.
• Subjects: In addition to religious subjects, mythological themes, genre scenes, and equestrian statues were cultivated.
• Forms: Production includes both relief sculptures and sculptures in the round.

Baroque Painting

The main characteristics of Baroque painting include:

• Perspective: Use of aerial perspective.
• Composition: Emphasis on diagonal compositions, creating dynamism.
• Realism: Extreme naturalism in depiction.
• Color and Light: Dominance of color over line, and intense contrast of light and shadow (chiaroscuro).
• Major Schools: The main schools were Italian and Flemish.

Theatrical Arts in the Baroque Era

The theater was also one of the great representative symbols of the Baroque era, exemplified by many 17th-century playwrights, such as Calderón de la Barca.