A discussion of the Baroque & the Renaissance

Solution Preview

Dear Student,

The debate on Baroque being a later part of the Renaissance drove me to discuss an encompassing recount of the periods in European history as art of a singular movement. While you asked for specific examples I did a little bit more - I discussed the attributes of the discipline & specific artists, sculptors, or particular works while giving you access to resources that will give you much more varied examples that you can choose from.

A word version is attached.

OTA 105878
---------------------------------------

The Renaissance & the Baroque

"He is a Renaissance man," is a phrase that refers to one who is well rounded and expert in various fields of science & the humanities - one who strives for knowledge & enlightenment by not just reviving the Classics; a renaissance man they say is one who is determined to break the barrier, push for development a lot like the polymaths of the 'renaissance' as we refer to that flourishing & feverish period in Europe's History in the 14th to the 17th Centuries - Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Raphael & classical sculptor Michaelangelo. Renaissance literally means 're-birth'. After the 'cultural stagnation' of to the Middle Ages (this is the popular opinion about the Medieval Period anyway) an attempt at reviving the Classics of Antiquity started in the 12th century in centres of the Hanseatic League of what today is Germany, early Gothic Art in architecture found its way to Cathedrals in France & Italy. The works of Plato, Aristotle, Virgil & the arts, sciences & architecture of the Greek civilization became of interest to Philosophers, artists, musicians & alchemists. Many however refer to this period as High Medieval Ages, that movement that brought about the full bloom of the Renaissance.

The Baroque Era on the other hand is said to be that which immediately precedes the Renaissance of the 16th century. There is argument however that Baroque is the 'high Epoch' or late Epoch of the Renaissance. For this purpose, I will cover 14th-17th century developments in order to include both Renaissance & Baroque art periods. As such, 14th-17th century Renaissance is marked as the 'proper' period of revival, what with powerful city states in Italy working feverishly at reviving the classics, often in competition with each other with each city state monarch or Noble sponsoring a scientist, an artist or a whole school of the gifted to bring a revival of the classics & bring about its flourishing in their cities. Tuscany, many historians believe was the epicentre of the renaissance movement. The glorious Italian region boasts the likes of Leonardo da Vinci as home-grown talent. Its main city-state & the ruling family, the Medicis allowed for and supported the revival of the classics as it gave them prestige over their rival nobles vying for popularity & control over Italy. The fall of Constantinople at the end of the crusades brought Greek & Turkish scholars to the region, bringing with them unique knowledge & artifacts of Antiquity. What resulted was an intellectual transformation - the best of the classics fused with the skills & minds of the best of that period & it showed in their work in the sciences, music, architecture & the arts, reaching a zenith in human history. By the 16th century what started in Tuscany spread across Europe and the renaissance the intellectual transformation managed to seep into villages in the most far flung European regions through its many manifestations. The Late Renaissance/Baroque time period of the 17th century coincides with a fantastical development in European History - that of a busy period of Empire Creation & Naval conquests of colonies and new territories. This influenced the arts, philosophy & various other manifestations of European culture at said time period.

The Arts

When we talk ...