Baroque

Baroque was an XVII century art movement that emerged in Italy. The Baroque was stylistically complex, even contradictory. At this era Caravaggio’s dramatic intensity was appreciated, but his realism was seen by some as unacceptably vulgar. The Baroque painters focused on representing scenes of heroes, mythology and Catholic themes. Portraiture was also an important subject among Baroque painters.

Caravaggio, The Inspiration of Saint Matthew.

Main Baroque painters were: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, The Carracci Family (Agostino, Annibale and their cousin Ludovico), Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt van Rijn, Jan Vermeer, José de Ribera, Francisco de Zurbaran, Diego Velázquez, Bartolome Murillo, Josefa de Óbidos and Frans Hals. These painters used exaggerated motion, space, detail and chiaroscuro. This style shows also solidity and grandeur.

See also

• Painting Schools

External links

• Baroque The WebMuseum, Paris.
• Baroque Art History, Sweet Briar College.

"The Club-Foot" by José de Ribera.