The Late Renaissance saw artists move away from harmonious ideals, embracing exaggerated forms and complex compositions. This shift, known as Mannerism, challenged viewers with visual complexity and intellectual depth.

As the 16th century progressed, a new style emerged: the Baroque. It emphasized drama, movement, and emotional intensity, reflecting the religious and political turmoil of the era. The Baroque style would come to dominate European art for over a century.

Mannerism and Stylistic Shifts

Emergence and Characteristics of Mannerism

• Mannerism developed as a reaction against the harmonious ideals of High Renaissance art
• Characterized by elongated, exaggerated figures and complex, artificial compositions that emphasize the artist's skill and intellect
• Mannerist artists sought to challenge the viewer with visual complexity, often creating a sense of tension and instability in their works
• Key Mannerist artists include Parmigianino (Madonna with the Long Neck), Bronzino, and Pontormo

Transition to the Baroque Style

• The Baroque style emerged as a response to the intellectual and artificial qualities of Mannerism
• Baroque art is characterized by a return to naturalism, with an emphasis on drama, movement, and emotional intensity
• Baroque artists sought to engage the viewer directly, using strong contrasts of light and shadow (chiaroscuro) and dynamic compositions to create a sense of immediacy and involvement
• The Baroque style reflects the religious and political turmoil of the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as the influence of the Counter-Reformation

Key Elements of Baroque Art

• Dynamism is a central feature of Baroque art, with compositions that emphasize movement, energy, and dramatic action
• Baroque artists often used diagonal lines, swirling forms, and dramatic gestures to create a sense of motion and vitality in their works
• Emotional intensity is another hallmark of the Baroque style, with artists seeking to evoke strong feelings in the viewer through expressive faces, gestures, and poses
• Baroque art often features a heightened sense of realism, with detailed depictions of textures, surfaces, and atmospheric effects that enhance the sense of immediacy and presence

Patronage in Early Baroque Art

The Role of the Catholic Church

• The Catholic Church was a major patron of Baroque art, commissioning works that aimed to inspire devotion and reinforce Church doctrine
• Baroque religious art often emphasized the emotional and spiritual aspects of faith, with dramatic depictions of saints, martyrs, and biblical scenes
• The Church used art as a tool for the Counter-Reformation, commissioning works that responded to Protestant criticisms and reaffirmed Catholic beliefs
• Baroque church interiors were designed to overwhelm the senses, with elaborate decorations, illusionistic frescoes, and grand architectural spaces that created a sense of awe and wonder (St. Peter's Basilica in Rome)

Secular Patronage and the Rise of the Baroque Style

• Secular patrons, including monarchs, aristocrats, and wealthy merchants, also played a significant role in the development of Baroque art
• Secular Baroque art often celebrated the power, wealth, and prestige of the patron, with grand portraits, allegorical scenes, and mythological subjects that glorified the individual or the state
• The Baroque style was well-suited to the needs of secular patrons, with its emphasis on grandeur, spectacle, and emotional impact
• Baroque palaces and public spaces were designed to impress and overwhelm the viewer, with elaborate decorations, monumental sculptures, and dramatic architectural features (Versailles)