The visual arts, as well as architectural design and construction, were created throughout the Baroque period in Western art history, which approximately corresponded to the seventeenth century. The word “Baroque” was most likely originated from the Italian word “Barocco,” which scholars used to denote an impediment in schematic logic throughout the Middle Ages. This work was written for the purpose of studying the Baroque.
Three larger cultural and philosophical trends had a significant effect on Baroque music and art. The first was the birth of the Counter-Reformation and the geographical and intellectual extension of its scope. The elegant, courtly style known as Mannerism had proven to be an effective form of expression by the late sixteenth century, and its insufficiency for church architecture was generally recognized in art and literature. According to Wisse (2002), “Bruegel brought a humanizing spirit to traditional subjects and boldly created new ones.” The second trend was the establishment of absolute monarchs, which was followed by the formation of a large and essential middle class, which began playing a function in art sponsorship. The third trend was a renewed interest in the environment and a fundamental widening of high cognitive horizons, fueled by scientific advances and global expeditions.
Martin Luther centered his criticism on the Church’s avarice and abuse of authority. He referred to Rome as the center of papal authority, complete with costly art, significant buildings, and lavish dinners. The Church reacted to the problem in two ways: dealing with corruption within and defending ideas opposed by Protestantism. To honor Catholicism, the rulers of Spain, Portugal, and France adopted the most luxurious features of seventeenth-century art. Historians continue to dispute the term’s legitimacy, agreeing that having a name for this unique historical time is helpful and conceding its limits in defining the range of creative forms prevalent in the seventeenth century.
Reference
Wisse, J. (2002). Pieter Bruegel the elder (ca. 1525–1569). Metmuseum.Org. Web.