IF IT'S NOT BAROQUE, DON'T FIX IT
The baroque periods were a time of continuation from the normal Renaissance times. The art was highly accepted and praised, and defined much of art was for a very long time. This is why the theme is word play off, unless its broke don't fix it.
Historical Context
The Baroque art historical period was time during 1600-1750. During this time, the Catholic church underwent a period of counter reformation, reacting to the protestant reformation and dealing with corruption in the church. During this frame of time, the Catholic church encouraged and commissioned art pieces that could easily be read by the reader, and have distinct religious messages to them.
The Counter-Reformation was a large period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent, and ending with the 30 years war around 1648. During the frame of time, the church underwent drastic structural reconfiguration within the church, and ended up creating several religious orders and spiritual movements that were still a part of the Catholic church. Some of these include the Jesuits, Ursulines, Theatines, etc. The Council of Trent attempted to discipline the administration of the Church. For example, one of the things the church had to discipline was the use of indulgences, one of the main complaints from Martin Luther, to fund extravagant buildings during the reign of Alexander Vi and Pope Leo X. Church offices were now no longer to be held for political reasons, and bishops now had more power to supervise the religious aspects of their areas.
The reformation of the church brought with it a new art style called Baroque art. This Baroque art focused on emotion as well as to help lift up those who viewed it. The Catholic church was the paint patron of the Baroque art during this time. However they were not the only patron, the use of Baroque art was so successful that the protestant churches began to use its specific style as well, however without its rather specific religious fervor.
Protestant baroque art was often using the stylistic way of painting that the Catholic baroque art had used, but the subject matter was very different. Rembrant, a protestant baroque artist, painted portraits of people who commissioned them from him. Or sometimes the protestant artists would represent contemporary scenes, like farmers tending to cattle, or just flowers in a race.
During this time, the Catholic and protestant tensions are high. Scientific progress is continuing faster than ever before, with new discoveries and new ideas coming rather readily. Monarchies were gaining power, nation states were governing their own people and having new political ideas. The thirty years war had far reaching political consequences and powers rose and fell. The average peasant was rather unaffected unless they were living in particular areas where war was raging. Life was still much like before.
The Counter-Reformation was a large period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent, and ending with the 30 years war around 1648. During the frame of time, the church underwent drastic structural reconfiguration within the church, and ended up creating several religious orders and spiritual movements that were still a part of the Catholic church. Some of these include the Jesuits, Ursulines, Theatines, etc. The Council of Trent attempted to discipline the administration of the Church. For example, one of the things the church had to discipline was the use of indulgences, one of the main complaints from Martin Luther, to fund extravagant buildings during the reign of Alexander Vi and Pope Leo X. Church offices were now no longer to be held for political reasons, and bishops now had more power to supervise the religious aspects of their areas.
The reformation of the church brought with it a new art style called Baroque art. This Baroque art focused on emotion as well as to help lift up those who viewed it. The Catholic church was the paint patron of the Baroque art during this time. However they were not the only patron, the use of Baroque art was so successful that the protestant churches began to use its specific style as well, however without its rather specific religious fervor.
Protestant baroque art was often using the stylistic way of painting that the Catholic baroque art had used, but the subject matter was very different. Rembrant, a protestant baroque artist, painted portraits of people who commissioned them from him. Or sometimes the protestant artists would represent contemporary scenes, like farmers tending to cattle, or just flowers in a race.
During this time, the Catholic and protestant tensions are high. Scientific progress is continuing faster than ever before, with new discoveries and new ideas coming rather readily. Monarchies were gaining power, nation states were governing their own people and having new political ideas. The thirty years war had far reaching political consequences and powers rose and fell. The average peasant was rather unaffected unless they were living in particular areas where war was raging. Life was still much like before.