Baroque

Also called Baroque art

Developing in seventeenth-century Italy and spreading across Europe, Baroque art was closely linked to church and court commissions. Diagonal compositions, dramatic lighting and turning bodies often worked together with sculpture and architecture. These coordinated effects drew viewers into an emotionally charged scene, making grandeur serve sensory and dramatic persuasion.

Kind

Art movement

Period

1600–1750

Lineage

Classical to Romantic Art

Related styles

1

Medium family

Printmaking, traditional arts and regional crafts

Medium

Oil painting

Technique

Glazing

Colour

Warm colors

Key traits

1. 01Diagonals, turning forms or outward movement organize figures and space.
2. 02In painting, concentrated light against darker passages often emphasizes action and emotion.
3. 03Volume, perspective and overlapping forms can create a forceful sense of spatial presence.
4. 04Drapery, gestures and expressions work together to support the overall drama.