Essay about Baroque Period (1600-1750) General Background

Baroque Period (1600-1750) General Background The years between 1600 and 1750 were full of contradiction, change, and conflict in Europe. The future would be shaped by the far reaching consequences of war. These conflicts pitted mainly the northern countries (Belgium, Germany, England, Sweden) against the Catholic kingdoms of the south (France, Spain, Austria), and further accentuated the pre-existing cultural differences between Northern and Southern Europe. However, tremendous scientific, philosophical, and artistic accomplishments that constitute the practical foundation of modern civilization flourished side by side with continual warfare, political instability, and religious fervor, bordering on fanaticism. Some of the most†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Absolutism and Patronage: Absolutism in government and the patronage system created an environmentthat fostered enormous growth in the arts. †¢The rise of the bourgeoisie: The new merchant class becomes a supporter of the arts, creating the climate for the development of a Baroque style in Northern Europe, particularly in Holland. The essential, philosophical outlook of the period was characterized by: †¢The emphasis on the individual, the personal character of religious experience, and the use of artistic expression to convey those experiences †¢The rise of capitalism and mercantilism as tools of empire building and financial basis for the rise of the bourgeois class †¢The creation of the baroque style—an art style full of emotion, flamboyancy, symbolism, vigor, and subtlety—largely as a product of the Catholic Church patronage of the arts Aided by philosophy, mathematics, and newly developed instruments and experimental methods, Baroque astronomers, mathematicians, philosophers, and writers, fueled the scientific revolution of the 17th Century by proposing world views that challenged conventional assumptions and questioned established Church dogmas. The scientific advances of this period had a profound impact on all spheres of human activity including the arts and music. The scientific revolution is traditionally considered to be framed between 1543—the year of On the revolutions of the heavenly spheres by NicolausShow MoreRelatedEssay Baroque Art in Europe and North America1408 Words   |  6 Pages Baroque Art in Europe and North America nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Throughout this research paper the topic is going to be along the lines of the Baroque Art in Europe and North America, which comes from chapter nineteen of our Art History book. The main purpose is to review major ideas and principles in this chapter by writing an analysis of certain points that were highlighted. For example, certain techniques that were used to define the Baroque Art, major sculptures, architectures, andRead MoreEssay on Opera3072 Words   |  13 Pagesthe pit. The soloists, chorus members and the dancers follow the directions of the conductor. The ancient Greeks blended drama and music, but opera as we know it today developed in Italy in the late 1500s. At first, the music was used mainly for background. However, by the end of the century, the drama and the music were equally important. The opera innovation inspired some of the biggest composers known today. In France, Jean-Baptiste Lully produced a model for courtly opera that influenced FrenchRead MoreHumanities11870 Words   |  48 Pagesart needs to be learned too. The definition of beautiful is a fluid concept. Each generation of artists explores new frontiers and ads to the existing pool of artistic language. For example, if you were to ask someone from the Renaissance period to appraise Picassos paintings, Picassos works would most likely be too different from their current understanding of artistic norms for them to fully comprehend and appreciate. Furthermore, new forms and concepts of art have almost never been invented