2. “Baroque” is the name given to the vigorous style that dominated art and architecture in the 17th century. It was a bold, theatrical style characterized by movement, intense emotion, and dramatic contrasts in lighting. This style originated in Rome and spread throughout Europe. In some ways, the Baroque style looked back to the grandeur, dignity, and directness of the High Renaissance, but it also took elements from Mannerism, blending these influences into a fresh and dynamic style. Because it was linked to the Counter-Reformation in the Catholic Church, Baroque art in its purest form was produced only in Catholic countries. It generally seemed overemotional to Protestant eyes, although elements of the Baroque style often occur in art from Protestant countries and are used to treat secular subjects. Aside from religion, other popular Baroque subjects included: portraits, landscapes, mythological and allegorical subjects, , and scenes of everyday life.
35. During the 17th century France became the most powerful state in Europe and began to rival Italy for artistic leadership. While in Italy the most characteristic Baroque art was religious, in France it was frequently used in the service of the state—specifically to glorify King Louis XIV. His palace at Versailles is one of the two great monuments to the style. The most influential French Baroquepainters worked primarily in Rome, but they were highly influential in France, helping to create an ideal of classical dignity and restraint that had a profound and enduring impact on the country’s art.
69. Although it had declined greatly in political power, Spain had a glorious flowering of art in the 17th century and the Baroque style was well suited to the religious fervor of the country. Religion dominated its art, although the greatest Spanish artist of the time—Diego Velázquez—was primarily a portraitist. His work sometimes has a rhetorical quality characteristic of Baroque art, but it is always tempered by naturalism. Madrid was the most important art center in the country, although other cities, notably Seville, were also of major importance at this time.
98. Art in Flanders (roughly equivalent to modern-day Belgium) and the Dutch Republic (Holland) shared a common heritage, as the two countries had been united in the 16th century. However, while the Dutch broke away from Spanish rule to create an independent, largely Protestant state, Flanders remained loyal to Spain and to the Catholic Church. Consequently, although there are many similarities between the countries’ art, religious subjects remained of major importance in Flanders but were relatively uncommon in Holland. Rubens dominated Flemish art and ranks as one of the archetypical figures of the Baroque style, his work being full of warmth and energy. Rembrandt was a figure of comparable statue in Holland, and 17th century Dutch art was unprecedented for its volume and variety of painters.
