French Baroque Research Paper

It is possible that the word “Baroque” may have come from the word Barocco, which is the Portuguese word for an irregular pearl. This term did not even exist for the artist of this period. Baroque art in Europe revealed dramatic and dynamic forms of art, with intense emotion and and interest in senses, as well as active participation from the viewer. Baroque is an era of art and culture that influenced European countries like Italy, Spain, Netherlands, France, and England. More specifically, the Baroque in France during the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715), was influenced by classicism. Classicism is the style that originated from the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. (Davies 431) The period of the Baroque era is often referred as the end

Characteristics that reflected Baroque architecture in France incorporated massive scale and repetition to show power and monarchy. A very elegant example of the Baroque period of architecture is Maisons Laffitte located near Paris. This architectural structure was built by Francois Mansart for Rene de Longueil, who was the minister over finances for Louis XIV. The proportions of all the elements are consistent throughout the structure, with a central pavilion linked by short wings to two traditional corner pavilions. This period of early Baroque (1630-60), were when the foundations for French Baroque architecture were laid

The goal was for the artists to produce art that Louis XIV liked, which was mainly Greek and Roman Art. Making the paintings during the Baroque period very classical and heavily inspired by Greek and Roman Art. One of the greatest French Baroque artist was Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665). Poussin’s classical style was chosen by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV's chief advisor and Charles Le Brun, the first president of the Royal Academy to serve as the acting example for all French artist at the time. His work, The Death of Germanicus, 1628, oil on canvas, is a painting history, with Greek and Roman influences. The figures in the composition are are scaled at the same proportion and arranged horizontally, which reflect a classical frieze. Poussin’s paintings showed defined, crisp, clear, and defined forms. In order for the viewer to depict the story, Poussin believed it was important for the view to have the ability to read the emotions of each figure in a composition. All of his compositions in some way depicted a little history lesson, his landscapes in particular had careful observations of nature. For example, Landscape with St. John on Patmos. This work of art by Poussin explored a Baroque Classicism concept that conveyed the physical arrangement of a spiritual, eternal world.

Claude Lorrain (1604-1682), a great French landscapist peaceful elements to both his landscapes and seascapes. An example