The complex, dramatic, refined Baroque style replaced the strict Renaissance in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Its main features, manifested in paintings, sculpture, music and, of course, architecture, was the desire for movement, emotion and variety in detail.
The main types of baroque
Baroque architecture can be found throughout Europe as well as in some countries on the American continent. Like other types of art, architecture has national characteristics that are reflected in the Baroque style.
Thus, the Italian Baroque, which gave rise to the style as such, reflected the desire of the holy fathers to express the power and splendor of the Church. It originated in powerful churches with high domes resting on twisted columns, in the multicolored marble and luxury of frescoes. All these features were introduced into secular architecture. A striking example of Italian Baroque is the Trevi Fountain in Rome. French Baroque, although distinguished by an abundance of luxurious details, is more orderly and symmetrical. The symbol of the French Baroque is the Versailles palace. An example of a typical English Baroque is St. Paul's Cathedral. English Baroque combined the form and power of the Italian with the organization of the French. Spanish Baroque, which is also often found in Latin American countries, is distinguished by an abundance of sculptures and Moorish motifs. Everything can be found in the famous Californian Casa del Prado. In Germany and Eastern Europe, the luxury of the Baroque has become more airy, flying. The pallor of colors and the flexibility of forms were later called late baroque or rococo. The famous Winter Palace was built in this style.
Famous Baroque architects include Giacomo Zanetti, Pietro Antonio Trezzini, Domenico Egidio Rossi, Johann Gottfried Bjoring, Thomas Archer and many others.
General features of baroque architecture
Baroque buildings are characterized by repeating high arched or ovular doors and windows, arches, high staircases, and twisted columns. Long colonnades allowed architects to create a bright contrast between light and space, to show how the former affects the perception of the latter. Large, intricate frescoes are also characteristic of this style, as are trompe l'oeil frescoes that mimic architectural details or natural landscapes. The buildings themselves are simple in shape, rectangular or square, but internal power and beauty is achieved through additional external elements. The favorite colors in baroque architecture are reddish brown or pale cream.
Baroque is the first style in art, which is characterized by the unity of design. Architects worked together with sculptures and artists, initially creating a single creation.
How to recognize a Baroque building
Pay attention to the luxurious buildings, the baroque was born in wealth and abundance, as a symbol of power and power, so it is easy to identify it by its "expensive" appearance. Look for buildings with lots of tall windows, twisted columns, arches, and symmetrical towers. Baroque is characterized by lush building facades that occupy the entire front of the building. Look for statues and murals in even the most inaccessible places.
