George, this exhibit is on seventeenth and eighteenth-century art. The seventeenth century can also be called the Age of Absolutism, which revolved around France, under the reign of Louis XVI, "the Sun King." This was before the French Revolution, and the people really didn't think anything of the king's power, because they were used to always being ruled by someone.
(Bernini, The Young Louis XVI, 1665 from the World of Art; used with permission)
When did they start to open their eyes, Annie?
That came later, in the enlightenment, which we will get to later. Anyway...
What exactly does absolutism mean anyway?
Absolutism was the divine right of kings. The kings had absolute power over the people, and the people had basically no rights. It was very different from the world as we know it today. During this time, the country of France also found itself enjoying a new popularity in Europe. France's culture, language...anything French was in fashion. That's how the art of baroque caught on and became popular all over Europe.
What does baroque mean?
Literally, it means 'odd', which it sure was. The baroque style is probably most evident in the French architecture of that period. It was used especially for decorating the grand palaces and also the churches of the time. It was a style that was very extravagant and very excessive.
So, tell me some names of baroque people.
Probably the most famous painter of the time was Rembrandt. There were also artists like Bernini and Rubens, but their works were not as extravagant as you would think. They seem darker, and the artists focus more on the emotions of the paintings. Usually, the artists were trying for something dramatic.
So, let's see a picture.
Rembrandt, Belshazzar's Feast, 1635 (From the WebMuseum; used by permission)
Wow. That guy looks really spooked. Do you know what the Arabic letters are saying?
I'm not sure...Oh! Here it says, 'God hath numbered thy kingdom and brought it to an end. Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.' Evidently, it is from a story in the Bible, and the man, Belshazzar, dies later that night.
I guess you could definitely call this a dramatic moment. The dark background really adds to the picture, making it more solemn. Everybody looks pretty spooked, too. I know if I saw a hand suddenly appear out of nowhere, I probably would not stick around to see what it was going to do.
Me either. Hey, here is something with headphones. It must be a sample of opera. Did you know that opera originated in the baroque period?
You mean we can thank them for the Three Tenors and the big ladies in the Vikings costumes?
That's right...only that Vikings image is a pretty outdated cliché. The opera has grand, flourishing costumes, with not many of them metal, and more than a few slender bodies. Operas are like the musicals of today, except everything is set to music, and they are always very dramatic.
Music from Henry Purcell's Dido and
Aeneas
(Disabled due to copyright restrictions)
For more on Purcell go to Naxos.
Next came the enlightenment period, which lasted until 1790. This is when people finally began thinking with their brains. They realized that they did not have to be ruled over or to listen to what other people told them. People discovered that they had their own opinions and did not have to be ruled by some egotistical king.
Too bad their free thinking got a lot of them in big trouble. I'm sure not very many of them were very good friends with the government.
No kidding. If you were king, and used to having people jump at your command when you told them what to do, you would get slightly peeved if suddenly people no longer catered to your whims. People no longer liking your ideas and coming up with ones of their own would be bad news for you and your government.
But the aristocracy was still in power. That meant money was still no object and that grand extravagances were still in style.
Right. The rococo period still showed a lot of flourishes and emotions, but it seemed to be a little lighter and brighter than that of the baroque. Some of it seemed almost fantastical.
Fragonard,
The Stolen Kiss (Go to the WebMuseum
for more information)
The artists don't seem as well known as the others,though. I must admit , I'd never heard of artists likeWatteau or Fragonard before we walked through here today. Maybe it's due to the fact that their paintings haven't sold for umpteen millions of dollars yet.
Probably. The only reason I've heard of people like Van Gogh or Rembrandt is because their paintings have made headlines with the amounts that they sell for.
These pictures definitely seem to be brighter than the ones back there in the baroque section. Their backgrounds are much more colorful, making them more cheery. The painters must be opening their minds to lighter tones and feelings in the paintings. It seems like they are looking at life less seriously....This exhibit was cool. What's next?
The Age of Revolutions and Century of Ideas.
Let's go.
Created by Janel Hanson
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