Among the numerous styles in art, some stand apart. This, for example, classicism and, of course, baroque. To fully understand what baroque is, you must first of all study the history and realities of that era when this style was widespread in almost all of Europe. Let's talk about the distinctive features of the Baroque in such areas of art as architecture and music.

What is baroque style

Baroque is a whole era. This style originated in medieval Italy around the end of the 16th century, and reached its peak in the 17th-18th centuries, spreading in Europe, replacing the harsh Gothic. If you look for a suitable translation of this word with Italian, then you can stop at the option "prone to excesses." And "barocco" means "dissolute" and even "vicious." This is the word the Italians chose for this artistic style. However, the Portuguese word "barroco" (and in Portugal this style was also very common) means just "an irregularly shaped pearl." In general, this style can be described as magnificent, with a lot of frills, majestic, luxurious and, at the same time, quite contrasting - in a word, the complete opposite of classicism that replaced it a little later. The cheerful era of the Baroque came to replace the harsh Middle Ages. That is why, instead of knightly tournaments, various amusements have become common - carousels, walks, fireworks, masquerades, etc. Pretentiousness and unnaturalness at this time are the norm. Everything that will be so dear to people of the era of romanticism: natural behavior, modesty and other similar qualities - is alien to the culture of the baroque era. Hence such a craving for lush wigs and hairstyles, unnatural clothes and so on and so forth.

Baroque in architecture

Despite being so strange for more later eras features, in architecture, the Baroque style, however, gave rise to many truly outstanding works. The names of great architects - such as Rastrelli and Bernini, Fontana and Borromini, Glaubitz and Rainaldi will tell a lot even to an unprepared reader. As regards the most significant architectural monuments of the Baroque era, we highlight, first of all, the famous Coronaro Chapel, which is located in the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, in Rome. We also note that the Baroque gave rise to many branches, among which we highlight such styles as the Spanish Baroque, Sicilian Baroque, French Baroque (and a little later - Rococo) and Moscow Baroque, which we will talk about in more detail.

What is Moscow baroque

That is what they call the architectural style in which at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th centuries. many buildings were built in Russia. The standard model for the design of door and window openings, similar columns and other architectural elements make buildings made in this style very recognizable. It should also be noted that the Moscow baroque subsequently developed into several independent architectural styles, which got their name from the names of nobles and boyars, in whose lands such buildings were built. Of the main styles, originating from the Moscow baroque, we single out the Naryshkinsky, Golitsinsky, Stroganov styles and the Prozorovsky style. And here is a small list of the most significant architectural monuments (of the surviving ones) built in the Moscow Baroque style: the Refectory of the Simonov Monastery, the Church of the Resurrection in Kadashi, the Assumption Cathedral in Ryazan, the Assumption Cathedral in Astrakhan, the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Kazan, the Tobolsk Kremlin. Many art historians attribute the last monument to a rather distinctive style - the so-called Siberian baroque.

What is baroque in music

Having replaced the music of the Renaissance, the music of the Baroque era is much more expressive. At the same time, like all the creations of this era, it is somewhat pretentious - sometimes even too much, and also very emotional. Although, it should be noted that a baroque work most often expresses one particular emotion: joy or sadness, fun or sadness, etc.). As for the differences directly in the construction of compositions, then (musicians will understand me) to replace the tonic shift in thirds, characteristic of the music of the Renaissance, the tonic shift began to occur in fourths and fifths. Of the outstanding composers of the Baroque era, I will note C. Monteverdi, D. Buxtehude, A. Scarlatti, T. Albinoni, A. Vivaldi, J. S. Bach, G. F. Handel, J. Pergolesi and, of course, my beloved G. F.Telemann.

Lost economic and political power. Foreigners - the Spaniards and the French - begin to manage in Italy, they dictate the terms of politics, etc. Exhausted Italy has not lost the height of its cultural positions - it remains cultural center Europe. The center of the Catholic world is Rome, it is rich in spiritual powers.

Power in culture manifested itself in adapting to new conditions - the nobility and the church need everyone to see their strength and viability, but since there was no money for the construction of the palazzo, the nobility turned to art to create the illusion of power and wealth. A style that can elevate is becoming popular, and this is how baroque appeared in Italy in the 16th century.

Origin of the term

Origin of the word baroque causes more controversy than the names of all other styles. There are several versions of the origin. Portuguese barroco- an irregularly shaped pearl that does not have an axis of rotation; such pearls were popular in the 17th century. in italian baroco- a false syllogism, an Asian form of logic, a sophistry technique based on metaphor. Like pearls of irregular shape, baroque syllogisms, the falsity of which was hidden by their metaphor.

The use of the term by critics and art historians dates back to the 2nd half of the 18th century and refers, at first, to figurative art and, consequently, also to literature. At first, Baroque acquired a negative meaning, and only in late XIX century there was a re-evaluation of the Baroque, thanks to the European cultural context from Impressionism to Symbolism, which highlights the links with the Baroque era.

One controversial theory suggests the origin of all these European words from the Latin bis-roca, twisted stone. Another theory - from Latin verruca, steep high place, defect in gemstone .

In different contexts, the word baroque could mean “pretentiousness”, “unnaturalness”, “insincerity”, “eliteness”, “deformity”, “exaggerated emotionality”. All these shades of the word baroque in most cases were not perceived as negative.

Finally, another theory suggests that this word in all the languages ​​​​mentioned is parodic from the point of view of linguistics, and its word formation can be explained by its meaning: unusual, unnatural, ambiguous and deceptive.

The ambiguity of the Baroque style is explained by its origin. According to some researchers, it was borrowed from the architecture of the Seljuk Turks.

Baroque features

Baroque is characterized by contrast, tension, dynamism of images, affectation, striving for grandeur and pomp, for combining reality and illusion, for the fusion of arts (urban and palace and park ensembles, opera, cult music, oratorio); at the same time - a tendency towards autonomy of individual genres (concerto grosso, sonata, suite in instrumental music).

The ideological foundations of the style were formed as a result of a shock, which the Reformation and the teachings of Copernicus became for the 16th century. The idea of ​​the world as a reasonable and permanent unity, which was established in antiquity, has changed, as well as the Renaissance idea of ​​man as a most rational being. In the words of Pascal, a person began to recognize himself as “something in between everything and nothing”, “one who catches only the appearance of phenomena, but is not able to understand either their beginning or their end.”

Baroque era

The Baroque era gives rise to a huge amount of time for entertainment: instead of pilgrimages - the promenade (walks in the park); instead of jousting tournaments - "carousels" (horse rides) and card games; instead of mysteries, theater and a masquerade ball. You can add the appearance of swings and "fiery fun" (fireworks). In the interiors, portraits and landscapes took the place of icons, and music turned from spiritual into a pleasant play of sound.

The Baroque era rejects tradition and authority as superstition and prejudice. Everything that is "clear and distinct" is thought or has a mathematical expression is true, declares the philosopher Descartes. Therefore, the baroque is still the age of Reason and Enlightenment. It is no coincidence that the word "baroque" is sometimes raised to designate one of the types of inferences in medieval logic - to baroco. The first European park appears in the Palace of Versailles, where the idea of ​​the forest is expressed extremely mathematically: linden alleys and canals seem to be drawn along a ruler, and the trees are trimmed in the manner of stereometric figures. In the armies of the Baroque era, which for the first time received a uniform, much attention is paid to "drill" - the geometric correctness of constructions on the parade ground.

baroque man

Baroque man rejects naturalness, which is identified with savagery, arrogance, tyranny, brutality and ignorance - all that in the era of romanticism will become a virtue. The Baroque woman cherishes the pallor of her skin, she wears an unnatural, frilly hairstyle, a corset and an artificially extended skirt on a whalebone frame. She is in heels.

And the gentleman becomes the ideal of a man in the Baroque era - from the English. gentle: “soft”, “gentle”, “calm”. Initially, he preferred to shave his mustache and beard, wear perfume and wear powdered wigs. Why force, if now they kill by pulling the trigger of a musket. In the Baroque era, naturalness is synonymous with brutality, savagery, vulgarity and extravagance. For the philosopher Hobbes, the state of nature state of nature) is a state characterized by anarchy and war of all against all.

Baroque is characterized by the idea of ​​ennobling nature on the basis of reason. The need is not tolerated, but “it is good to offer in pleasant and courteous words” (An honest mirror of Youth, 1717). According to the philosopher Spinoza, the instincts no longer constitute the content of sin, but "the very essence of man." Therefore, the appetite is formalized in exquisite table etiquette (it was in the Baroque era that forks and napkins appeared); interest in the opposite sex - in a courteous flirtation, quarrels - in a sophisticated duel.

Baroque is characterized by the idea of ​​a sleeping God - deism. God is conceived not as a Savior, but as a Great Architect who created the world just as a watchmaker creates a mechanism. Hence such a characteristic of the Baroque worldview as mechanism. The law of conservation of energy, the absoluteness of space and time are guaranteed by the word of God. However, having created the world, God rested from his labors and does not interfere in the affairs of the Universe in any way. It is useless to pray to such a God - one can only learn from Him. Therefore, the true guardians of the Enlightenment are not prophets and priests, but natural scientists. Isaac Newton discovers the law gravity and writes the fundamental work “Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy” (), and Carl Linnaeus systematizes biology “ System of Nature” (). Academies of Sciences and scientific societies are being established everywhere in European capitals.

The diversity of perception raises the level of consciousness - something like the philosopher Leibniz says. Galileo for the first time directs a telescope to the stars and proves the rotation of the Earth around the Sun (), and Leeuwenhoek under a microscope discovers tiny living organisms (). Huge sailboats plow the expanses of the world's oceans, erasing white spots on geographical maps peace. Travelers and adventurers become literary symbols of the era: the ship's doctor Gulliver and Baron Munchausen.

Baroque in painting

The Baroque style in painting is characterized by the dynamism of compositions, the “flatness” and pomp of forms, the aristocracy and originality of subjects. Most character traits baroque - catchy flamboyance and dynamism; a striking example is the work of Rubens and Caravaggio.

Michelangelo Merisi (1571-1610), who was nicknamed Caravaggio from his birthplace near Milan, is considered the most significant master among Italian artists who created at the end of the 16th century. new style in painting. His paintings, painted on religious subjects, resemble realistic scenes of the author's contemporary life, creating a contrast between late antiquity and modern times. The heroes are depicted in twilight, from which the rays of light snatch out the expressive gestures of the characters, contrastingly writing out their specificity. The followers and imitators of Caravaggio, who were at first called caravaggists, and the very current of caravagism, such as Annibale Carracci (1560-1609) or Guido Reni (1575-1642), adopted the riot of feelings and the characteristic manner of Caravaggio, as well as his naturalism in depicting people and events.

Baroque in architecture

In Italian architecture, the most prominent representative of the Baroque art was Carlo Maderna (1556-1629), who broke with Mannerism and created his own style. His main creation is the facade of the Roman church of Santa Susanna (g.). The main figure in the development of baroque sculpture was Lorenzo Bernini, whose first masterpieces executed in the new style date back approximately to Mr. Bernini, also an architect. He owns the decoration of the square of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome and the interiors, as well as other buildings. A significant contribution was made by D. Fontana, R. Rainaldi, G. Guarini, B. Longhena, L. Vanvitelli, P. da Cortona. In Sicily, after a major earthquake in 1693, a new style of late baroque appeared - Sicilian baroque.

In Germany, the New Palace in Sanssouci (authors - I. G. Bühring, H. L. Manter) and the Summer Palace in the same place (G. W. von Knobelsdorff) are an outstanding baroque monument.

Baroque in sculpture

Trier. Baroque Sphinx at the Elector's Palace

Pope Innocent XII. Cathedral of Saint Peter in Rome

Baroque gnomes in the Hofgarten of Augsburg

Sculpture is an integral part of the Baroque style. The greatest sculptor and recognized architect of the 17th century was the Italian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). Among his most famous sculptures are the mythological scenes of the abduction of Proserpina by the god of the underworld Pluto and the miraculous transformation into a tree of the nymph Daphne pursued by the god of light Apollo, as well as the altar group "The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" in one of the Roman churches. The last of them, with its clouds carved from marble and the clothes of the characters fluttering in the wind, with theatrically exaggerated feelings, very accurately expresses the aspirations of the sculptors of this era.

In Spain, in the era of the Baroque style, wooden sculptures prevailed, for greater credibility they were made with glass eyes and even a crystal tear, real clothes were often put on the statue.

Baroque in literature

Writers and poets in the Baroque era perceived the real world as an illusion and a dream. Realistic descriptions were often combined with their allegorical depiction. Symbols are widely used