Baroque Sculpture: Characteristics, History, and Artists
Baroque Sculpture
Introduction
During the 17th century, the art of sculpture underwent a significant transformation, leading to a departure from the classical style. Baroque sculpture was often closely linked to architecture and painting.
Characteristics of Baroque Sculpture
Naturalism
The defining trait of Baroque figurative arts, including sculpture, is naturalism, a close adherence to reality. Religious iconography transformed, portraying sacred figures with lifelike detail, bringing them closer to the faithful. This approach explored the representation of feelings and emotions through gestures and expressions.
Mystical Experience
Baroque sculpture delved into the exploration of mystical experiences and extreme states of the soul. Artists depicted saints in trance-like states, overwhelmed by the divine presence. Representations of martyrdom, particularly in painting, vividly portrayed human pain and suffering, serving as a means to exalt religious fervor, exemplified in Spanish Baroque imagery.
Movement
The depiction of movement was another significant achievement of Baroque sculpture. Artists captured fleeting moments, prompting reflection on the transience of human life. They masterfully represented the climax of action or the tension preceding it, using diagonal lines and elements like flowing cloth or hair to convey a sense of dynamism.
Religious Themes
Religious themes remained fundamental, particularly due to the role of Baroque art in disseminating the ideals of the Counter-Reformation. Mythological themes were also explored, and sculpture gained prominence in urban spaces, such as fountains.
Materials
Marble, with its rich color and texture, was the preferred material. However, artists often combined diverse materials like stones, bronze, stucco, and wood to create powerful visual effects.
Gianlorenzo Bernini
Gianlorenzo Bernini (1589-1680) was the most prominent figure of Baroque sculpture, particularly in Rome. A skilled architect and painter, he dominated the art scene of his time and exerted a lasting influence. His extraordinary technical virtuosity, especially in marble, his mastery of movement, and his ability to capture intense emotions are evident in his works.
Spanish Baroque Sculpture
Spanish Baroque sculpture was deeply intertwined with the social and ideological context of 17th-century Spain. It served as a powerful tool for disseminating the ideas of the Council of Trent and fostering religious fervor among the people. Monasteries, parishes, and confraternities were the primary patrons.
Imagery
Spanish Baroque sculpture featured intensely realistic and emotionally charged devotional images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and saints. This emphasis on imagery reflected the importance the Counter-Reformation placed on the veneration of images, contrasting with the Protestant rejection of such practices.
Processions
Magnificent processions with sculpted images became common during this period, particularly during Easter to commemorate the Passion of Christ. These theatrical displays aimed to evoke a strong emotional response from the faithful.
Altarpieces
Altarpieces, which had developed during the Renaissance, continued to be prominent in the Baroque period, albeit with greater decorative exuberance. They depicted religious scenes with complex compositions and intense emotional drama.
Materials and Techniques
Painted wood was the primary material used in Spanish Baroque sculpture. Its affordability, lightness for transport, and suitability for polychromy made it ideal for creating lifelike figures. Artists often used real hair, horn nails and teeth, glass eyes, and even real clothes in a technique known as “dressed sculpture.”
Schools and Artists
In the first half of the 17th century, two prominent schools emerged: the Castilian school, led by Gregorio Fernandez, and the Andalusian school, with centers in Seville, where Martinez Montanes worked, and Granada, home to Alonso Cano and Pedro de Mena. In the 18th century, Francisco Salzillo of Murcia gained prominence.