Baroque and Rococo

Read the text and fill in the chart below about the main features of the Baroque and Rococo.

Text 2

Baroque and late Baroque, or Rococo, are terms applied to European art of the period from the early 17^th century to the mid 18^th century.

The word “baroque” was derived from the Italian word “baroque”. This word also meant irregular or imperfect form, especially with reference to pearl.

The Baroque style is characterized by spatially complex compositions, interpenetration[11] of oval spaces, curved surfaces and remarkable use of decoration broken pediments, paired or coupled columns or pilasters. The Baroque art was essentially concerned with vivid[12] colours, hidden[13] light sources, luxurious materials and elaborate[14], contrasting surface textures. There was a tremendous richness of motifs-festoons of flowers and fruits, masks, scrolls, wreaths and weapons. During the Baroque period, architecture, painting and sculpture were integrated into decorative ensembles. Architects used sculpture to support the members of a building, painters decorated the walls and vaults of churches with false architectural perspectives, sculptors introduced colour in their works in the spirit of a painter.

The Baroque rapidly developed into two separate forms: the strongly Roman Catholic counties (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Flanders, Bohemia, Southern Germany, Australia and Poland) tended toward freer and more active architectural forms and surfaces; in Protestant regions (England, the Netherlands and the remainder of Northern Europe) architecture was more restrained[15] and developed a quiet monumentality impressive in its refinement[16].

The greatest works of this style are Dome des Invalides by Hardouin-Mansart [17](1); the church of Santa Susanna (2); Versailles (3); Royal Palace in Madrid (4); Royal Palace at Caserta (5).

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The Rococo is assumed to have been the late phase of the Baroque, primarily French in origin. The style was first inspired by the shell-encrusted artificial fountains and grottoes at Versailles. This style refined the robust[18] architecture of the 17^th century to suit elegant 18^th century tastes. Vivid colours were replaced by pastel shades; diffuse[19] light flooded the building volume; violent surface relief was replaced by smooth flowing masses with emphasis only at isolated points. One can find intermingling[20] of shells, C - and S - scrolls[21], rocks, seaweed[22], ribbons and carving and irregular acanthus foliation[23]. Churches and palaces still demonstrated an integration of the three arts, but the building structure was lightened to render interiors graceful and ethereal[24]. Rococo architects reduced column size to a minimum. In churches, the ceilings of side aisles were raised to the height of the nave ceiling unify the space from wall to wall.

The finest examples of the Rococo style are Church of the "Madonna del Carmine", Turin, Italy (1732) (1); The Steinhausen Church of Pilgrimage, Germany (1728) (2); Saint - Jacques, Luneville, France (1730) (3).

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2. Choose the sentences which correspond to the contents of the text:

1) Baroque is a term applied to European Art of the early 15^th century.

2) The word “baroque” was used to describe an irregular or imperfectly shaped pearl only.

3) The Baroque style was concerned with bright colours, hidden light sources and contrasting surface textures.

4) Cheap materials were used during the Baroque period.

5) The Rococo is considered to be the late phase of the Baroque.

6) The Rococo style is assumed to have appeared in France.

7) During the Rococo period there was no more integration of architecture, painting and sculpture.

3. Answer the questions:

1) How is the word “Baroque” defined?

2) What are the main features of the Baroque?

3) What outstanding Baroque architects do you know?

4) When did the Rococo appear?

5) What are typical characteristics of the Rococo?

4. Use the clichés from ex. 5, p. 14 and write the retelling of the text “Baroque and Rococo”.

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