2 questions about Baroque and Rococo style - Essay Example

Baroque and Rococo Style Baroque’s interest in action was inspired by the religious conflicts especially the conflicts between the Catholic and Protestants which had a great effect on art and was further fuelled by the Catholics, through their Counter-Reformation that made them to launch great buildings campaigns for churches, and their furnishings and decorations especially in countries such as Italy, Spain, and Germany. The economic success and rise of European capitals such as Amsterdam and London combined with the emergence of an urban middle class with disposable income, particularly in Holland who wanted art to be produced in general subjects especially landscapes and flowers.

The baroque style changed the art in an intellectual and imaginative model for understanding various aspects of nature and made everything within the picture recede towards a vanishing point and further united the painter and the viewer in a single space, creating the illusion that the image is as real as its beholder. Baroque style also made the pictorial space extend infinitely, similar, and cosmologic concept that gained popularity in seventeenth century. Baroque style created satisfying relationship between depth and height as well as creating transition from dark to light.

Baroque style widely used exaggerated and direct emotional involvement to produce drama that was encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church. The artists portrayed Christians as people from lower classes and down to earth approach to offend most viewers who believed that religious figures should be portrayed as idealized to signify their holiness. Linear style which was mostly used in Baroque was considered the best model in the modern painting. Classical landscape and the desire to appeal to the emotional states by appealing to the senses were also embraced.

The following artwork shows the examples of Baroque style (Essential Humanities Web) Rocco art styleRocco art style is believed to have originated from France and was mainly used for interior design where painting and decoration characterized b lightness, delicacy and elaborate ornamentation was involved. Although its exact origin is obscure, the style corresponds roughly to the reign of King Louis XV of France and began with the French designer Pierre Lepautre who introduced arabesques and curves into the interior architecture of the royal residence to break with the heroic Louis XIV style.

This style was as a representation of higher domestic life in the superior class individuals in the society. Rococo style included elegant dressings, pastel colors, natural motifs, elaborate carved forms, symmetry, rocaille and acanthus which was one of the basic motifs of rococo design. This style further changed the furniture designs that evolved into a sybol of status and took a great part in comfort and versatility. The rococo style spread quickly in other parts of Europe especially in Europe and Australia and created a style of unbelievable lavishness.

However, rococo style vanished in 18th century after the French revolution in 1789 due to the emergence of neoclassical art which was the signature of visual style of Napoleon in France and of the American Revolution. Rococo style depicted aristocratic lavish art of pleasure, which showed excessive display of misspent wealth and power by an oppressive totalitarian government. Rococo art style revealed culture in decline due to its association with extravagance. The following artwork shows the examples of rococo style (Johns Web).

Works CitedEssential Humanities. Neoclassical and Romantic Painting, (2013): Web. 12 Apr. 2013. Johns, Becky. Art/Culture - Baroque and Rococo. (2013): Web. 12 Apr. 2013,