ART-HIST 110 1st Edition Lecture 4Baroque Art: The Low Countries and FranceThe Northern Netherlands became a Protestant area, while the lower area of Flanders (now Belgium) remained Catholic. These religious choices will affect the kind of art made during the 17th century. In the north, the middle-class merchant group was emerging in this area who had money to pay for art. Peter Paul Rubens, Elevation of the Cross, originally commissioned by the church of Saint Walpurga, Antwerp, 1610-1611, oil on canvasTraveled to Italy to study where he was able to see the Renaissance and Baroque masters there (Michelangelo and Caravaggio). After 8 years of traveling, he comes back to Flanders and paints this altar. Is a TRYPTICH (3 panels). Prestigious and monumental painting. Rubens wants to show-off what he has learned in Italy, but also that he is original. Depicts Christ on the cross being raised by muscular townspeople. Baroque diagonal composition is dynamic and brings you in. Lots of beautiful bodies in perspective, as we are looking into deep space. Artist showing he understand perspective and the nude body. Monumental muscular figures inspired by figures on Sistine Chapel ceiling. Vigorous, powerful, masculine bodies. From Caravaggio he takes the extreme perspective and high contrasts for increased dram. Differences: facial expressions in Rubens show more drama, the physical effort of raising the cross, but also the intense emotional effort of seeing Crist crucified. Using the bodies for expressive power. Rubens wants to involve the viewer, to have the viewer experience this event that happened so long ago. Makes it feel as though you’re there and that this is real – does this through a variety of details: the dog, the details in the armor and trees. Shows the northern tradition of capturing naturalistic details, therefore Rubens is thinking through his own northern influences and combining them with what he learned in Italy. Perspective is made from below, where the viewer would have been situated. It’s communicating with you, but also by being placed up high it sets the scene up as being important/holy.The Dutch RepublicProtestants didn’t want religious scenes, wanted humble every-day scenes: GENRE PAINTING. Also liked portraits and landscapes. Some people made their fame in these topics.Judith Leyster, Self Portrait, 1635Female painter, was one of the only women admitted to the local guild of painters. She was an independent painter, had her own studio. Here we see her working on one of her paintings (Merry Company, c. 1631). Her pose is natural, as though we just interrupted her working. Yet, she is dressed richly. She is showing herself off as a serious, professional, and successful painter – like a business card. She is even giving us a sample of her work on the easel. She’s showing us her artistic virtuosity in her portrait – showing that she’s a specialist in portraiture AND genre painting. Her brushstroke is very fine and controlled around her face, but her brushstroke becomes looser in lace and clothing. This shows that she can manipulate and vary her own technique.Judith Leyster, Merry Company, 1630She was forgotten after her death. Before 1893, they thought this was by the famous Frans Hals. Eventually they found 35 paintings by her. Her signature had been covered and re-painted over.The High Baroque in France: The Reign of Louis XIVLouis had a VERY long reign from 1643-1715. Declared himself the sun-king that he WAS the state and that he got his authority from God – an absolute monarchy. He would use his art as propaganda to pump up his image as near-God.HyacintheRigaud, Louis XIV, 1701HUGE (9 feet tall). Shows the pomp of his court and image. Jules Hardouin-Masart and Charles Le Brun, Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, France, begun 1678He built his palace in Versailles on what had once been a hunting lodge. He was feeling strong after winning a war against the Netherlands. This palace was to be its own community for the aristocrats (where Louis could keep his eye on them). Most famous room is the Hall of Mirrors. Very expensive to make. Mirrors placed across from windows and distributes light which bounces of all the gilded decorations in the room.The art promoted by Louis XIV was centered all around Louis. You’re are supposed to be dazzeled by the magnificent of the work and therefore him.The RococoWhen Louis XIV dies and Louis XV takes over, things change. New king shuts down Versailles and tells nobels to go home. So this rich people are suddenly free and when they are back in Paris they move intotheir own mansions where they try to re-create the pomp they were used to at Versaille in their buildings and decorations. This work takes on a new style: The Rococo period.ROCOCO: The refined, fanciful and often sensual style that emerges in the early 18th century in the leganthouse (hotels) of paris.GermainBoffrand, Salon de la Princesse, with paintings by Charles JospehNatoire and sculpture by JB Lemoine, Hotel de Soubise, Paris, France, begun 1732These house usually had “Salons” (living rooms) where the lady of the house would often hold cultural meetings. This grew the culture in France. Room is a total work of, and enchanted space. This magical life comes in painting as well.Jean-Antoine Watteau, Pilgrimage to the Island of Cythera, 1717Afantasy world showing idealized images of aristocratic life. A very fantastic scene of the most stylish French people visiting the mythological island of love/Venus. This is a brand new painting. Is a FETE GALANTE: “amorous festival” a specific type of Rococo painting showing aristocrats having fun in nature. No realism here, a fantasy.Anti-Rococo ReactionFrench Enlightenment philosopher Denis Diderot (1713-1784) criticizes this art as being extravagant and silly. This art is only made for the very rich – an unfair hierarchy. Enlightenment philosophers wanted the world to change and though art could be influential, it can change people – why waste this potential painting little putti (naked flying babies)? Believed art should give moral, or instructive messages about how to change the world and be better people. These ideas did affect the kind art made in the latter halfof the century.In England…William Hogarth, hoped to make a particular kind of British art, free of mythology. He uses satire to criticize society, especially