Baroque Art: The Most Influential Art

Baroque Art Era the most influential period of art for me. Baroque Art can be in painting, sculpture and architecture and its style depends on the place it originated. The art's objective is to engaged the audience or viewer on a spiritual level capturing a sense of excellence. When it comes to painting and sculpture the art looks like a moving to become more realistic and dramatic to add more "feelings". The secret to this art is the shadows , light manipulation/lighting  and contrast. Ceiling Frescoes were a popular painting style during this era. using large surface areas helped to create the dramatic awe inspiring characteristics of the Baroque style.Many of the techniques used in Baroque painting carried on from the "Renaissance", using ideas such as chiaroscuro(lights and shadows) and linear perspective. In sculpture, it were also used in Architectural structures to adding another element of grandeur and making a more visually appealing structure.In Architecture, most of the Baroque art architecture are used in Church and Palace.

The Baroque Art was first seen in Italy then pass to Spain,Germany, France, Netherlands and Austria. Most of the Baroque art is a product of the Catholic art movement. The Baroque Art was in the 1500 to 1700s by the critics.The Baroque Art was also a product of the "Renaissance period" as I have said in the second paragraph. The Baroque was divided in three it is Counter-Reformation( 1565-1610 A.D), Realism( 1610-1640 A.D) and the Absolution (1700-1750 A.D). Some Baroque Artist was Peter Paul Rubens(painter) , Caravaggio(Painter, Sculptor, Architect), Rembrandt(Painter) , Gian Lorenzo Bernini(Sculptor, Architect), Anthony van Dyck(Painter) and Francois Mansart(Architect). Their work have one of this image are direct, obvious and dramatic. Depictions feel physically and psychologically real it can be describe as Emotionally Intense. Looking the a Baroque artist you will that they are like trying you to draw you to participate in the scene.

 The most famous Bernini contributed most in this era. He was son of Pietro an Italian sculptor. He was a child prodigy much like Michelangelo. He enjoyed immense popularity and networked with the powerful elite of Europe, contributing important works of architecture and sculpture, especially fot the Church.Pope Urban VIII hired him at age 26 to craft the Baldachhino (16247-1633), a 95-foot high canopy decorating  the main altar of the St. Peter's Basilica. The BAROQUE period offers deep perceptual experiences though vivid realism and symbolism.From Bernini's diagonals to the soaring churches of Europe and the New World, Baroque challenges the idea that this period is best described as Early Modern.

Who is the Woman in the Mona Lisa?

 Who is the woman in “Mona Lisa”? Why is she smiling, or what’s with her smile? Is it really a person or just an imagination by Leonardo? These are some questions you will mostly hear when talking about Mona Lisa. Join me and let’s discover the secrets of this majestic piece of art. 

Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa is greatest and most famous painting in world. It was painted by the genius Leonardo da Vinci 500years before this present time. It was between 1503 or 1506 to be precise .He is always carrying it for the last 13 years of his life. But the question is who is the woman holding the beautiful smile? According to my research, Lisa del Giocondo, wife of Francisco del Giocondo a wealthy merchant, is the woman in the painting. She was a member of the Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany. The painting is thought to have been commissioned for their new home and to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea. Her pose markedly upright with her arms folded. Her eyes/focus is on the observer with warm welcome in her eyes.  Leonardo use new technique in the Mona Lisa for his object to look alive he didn’t draw outline.

Others said that there is other person referred in the painting. Today the consensus of art historians is that the painting depicts Lisa del Gioncondo, which has always been the traditional view.  The title was believed to be from ma donna means my lady then became Mona. Lady Lisa in other word.  The reason why Leonardo paint her is because of Francisco her husband. Leonardo used a pyramid design to place the woman simply and calmly in the space of the painting. The painting originally has eyebrows and good quality but time passed by and it disappear gradually. The Mona Lisa has a vast landscape background of an icy mountain and land. He also use aerial perspective on making it, also he is one of those first painters to use this perspective. It was believed that Leonardo was influenced by the Chinese Paintings.

            FYI! Did you know that the Mona Lisa was once stolen and believe to be lost forever. They thought that it is with the photographers for marketing purposes. Then Beroud affroached the heads of security and it was confirmed that the painting was not with the photographers. The Louvre where it was display for five years was closed for an entire week for investigation. By that dark days it was believe that the painting will not be seen again. It was two years later when the true thief was discover.  Louvre employee:Vincenzo Peruggia had stolen it by entering the building during regular hours, hiding in a broom closet and walking out with it hidden under his coat after the museum had closed. He is an Italian patriot who believes that the painting must be in Italy and be displayed in an Italian museum. He was caught when he got impatient and tried to sell it to Uffizi Gallery. During World War II, the painting was again removed from the Louvre and taken safely, first to Château d'Amboise, then to the Loc-Dieu Abbey and Château de Chambord, then finally to the Ingres Museum in Montauban. 

Leonardo da Vinci

            There are many people saying that this painting have many secrets and mystery beneath it. Is there other reason of Leonardo why he paints it?