Baroque Period
The Baroque period brought drama, movement, and emotional intensity to European art. Characterized by bold contrasts of light and shadow, dynamic compositions, and theatrical grandeur, Baroque art served both Catholic Counter-Reformation propaganda and absolutist royal courts.
Historical Context
The Baroque emerged during religious conflicts between Catholic and Protestant powers, the rise of absolute monarchies, and scientific discoveries. The Catholic Church commissioned dramatic artworks to inspire devotion, while royal courts celebrated their power through magnificent artistic programs.
Key Characteristics
- Dramatic use of chiaroscuro and tenebrism
- Dynamic diagonal compositions and movement
- Emotional intensity and theatrical effects
- Rich colors and ornamental detail
- Integration of sculpture, painting, and architecture
Notable Artists
Related Art Movements
Explore Baroque Artworks
10,000 artworks from 1600-1750 available in our collection
Dram Cup
Benjamin Wynkoop
ca.1700
Dram Cup
Jeremiah Dummer
1670–1700
Dram Cup
John Coney
ca. 1680
Tumbler
Benjamin Wynkoop
1695–1730
Stained-glass window
Evert Duyckinck
ca. 1656
Basin
Damián Hernández
1660–80
Vase
Justus Brouwer|The Porcelain Axe
1739–75
Vase
Justus Brouwer|The Porcelain Axe
1739–75
Box
John Thurston
1660–85
Box
William Buell
1640–80
Tumbler
Philip Goelet
ca. 1735
Tumbler
Cornelius Vander Burch
1690–99
A woman of European descent in Pera, Constantinople receiving visitors, followed by a young girl (Une Dame Franques de Pera à Constantinople recevant visite)
Giuseppe Camerata II|Jean Etienne Liotard
1745
"Two Nightingales in a Rose Bush", Double-Sided Illustrated Leaf from an Ottoman Album
'Abdullah Bukhari
ca. 1725–45
Le Maraviglie del Mondo nuovo
Stefano della Bella
ca. 1630–40
Perspectival View and Floorplan of a Public (?) Building
Anonymous, French, 17th century
ca. 1650-1670
Design for the Coat of Arms of a Cardinal with three Angels
Anonymous, Italian, 17th century|Giovanni Francesco Romanelli|Pietro da Cortona (Pietro Berrettini)
ca. 1640-1660
Saint John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo|Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
1750–1780
Saint Francis of Paolo miraculously healing a man possessed
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
ca. 1750–1770
The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew
Carlo Maratti|Domenichino (Domenico Zampieri)
1645–1660
The Holy Family on the Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi
1630–1680
Oval Watch Plate with Diana and Actaeon, form a Series of Six Designs for Watch Cases
Antoine Jacquard
ca. 1610–15
Oval Watch Case with the Abduction of Helen of Troy (?), from a Series of Six Designs for Watch Cases
Antoine Jacquard
ca. 1610–15
Oval Watch Case with a Wrestling Match, from a Series of Six Designs for Watch Cases
Antoine Jacquard
ca. 1610–15
Showing 24 of 10,000 artworks
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Explore Other Periods
19th Century
1800-1899
The 19th century witnessed revolutionary transformations in art, from Neoclassicism through Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism. This era saw artists breaking from academic traditions, exploring new techniques, and capturing modern life with unprecedented immediacy.
18th Century
1700-1799
The 18th century, also known as the Age of Enlightenment, saw the flourishing of Rococo elegance and the emergence of Neoclassicism. This period celebrated reason, refinement, and classical ideals while producing ornate decorative arts and grand historical paintings.
Renaissance
1400-1600
The Renaissance marked a cultural rebirth that transformed European art. Artists rediscovered classical learning, developed linear perspective, and achieved unprecedented naturalism. This period produced some of history's greatest masterpieces and established principles that shaped Western art for centuries.