Influences on Art

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Please allow some of my brainstorming notes to guide your essay:

I strongly feel that art is greatly influenced by social, political, and economic forces. Thus, I want to examine Baroque and Rococo perspectives based upon these influences.

First, Baroque paintings were greatly influenced by social forces within the era. Please note that this era was marked great exploration and curiosity for nature. Based on the works of Francis Bacon, Descartes, Galileo, Kepler, and other prominent figures, Baroque seemed to mirror the social beliefs about the universe.

You might also highlight that Baroque art changed its perspective of space. You might use Andrea Pozzo's architectural columns and arches as evidence when looking at the ceiling of Sant'Ignazio. You may also choose Peter Paul Rubens' Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus to also show the changing space perspective since this piece shows how the figures seem to impose or invade the viewer's space.

Besides space, the Roman church also caused social, political, and economic effects upon art and architecture during the Baroque era. Please note that the immense power of the church power influenced the grandiosity of architecture. To illustrate, you might cite Bernini's two colonnades in St. Peter's Square or the Palace of Versailles. This piece is as important as a prime example to show the connections among social, political, and economic forces upon art. Please note that this was Louis XIV's greatest enterprise and was designed by Le Vau under the leadership of Mansart. You might mention the garden front, Salons of Peace and War, monumental classical exteriors, and other elements that reflect these influences.

Louis XIV's Versailles was a symbol of royal absolutism and an expression of the classical baroque style for several reasons. It definitely reflected social and political ideas. First, it was erected by 36,000 workers at cost of 500 million dollars. It exuded absolutist philosophies because its interior was furnished with great mirrors, Gobelin ...