Renaissance and Baroque Style

417 Words2 Pages
Robert Fair ART 101 Module 1, Case When different eras in the world’s history meet with the same piece of art, there are no two pieces that are identical because of the time period in which the pieces of art were created. Although the Renaissance and Baroque periods overlap each other in the 1600s and both originated in Italy (however one in Rome, the other in Florence), both styles spread throughout much of Europe rather quickly. Before one can examine one piece of art to another, one must know what each style is and what each is about. The Baroque style used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture, literature, dance, and music. Baroque originated by the Roman Catholic Church around 1600 as a response to Protestant reform in the city of Rome, Italy. The Renaissance goes back into the 1100s, however this type of Renaissance art come from the end of the Middle Ages transitioning into the Modern era; approximately the 1300s through the 1600s. This era started around Florence, Italy, and gradually made its way around Europe. There however, is no defined origin as to how the Renaissance came about. Different theories include the political structure of Florence, the patronage of its most dominant family, the Medici, and the migration of Greek scholars and texts to Italy following the fall of Constantinople at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. When examining two different pieces of art, the obvious major differences are seen first. In this case, it would be Michelangelo’s David, which was sculpted in the nude, whereas Bernini’s David is clothed. This is quite distinctive of the Renaissance period. In that time frame, artists such as Michelangelo focused more on the art of the body than say, Bernini (who was one of the more important artists of the
Open Document