The Baroque’s Depiction of Light
Written By: Amayah Meas
The Baroque period is one of the most remarkable styles of art that revolutionized the world of painting, architecture, sculpture, and design. One of the techniques most commonly attributed to Baroque painting is tenebrism, the use of intense chiaroscuro that shines a spotlight on certain parts of a painting to indicate a potential meaning of the subject matter. The use of light has proven to transform the iconography of a painting, especially when interpreted by multiple artists (for example, The Last Supper, painted by Andrea del Castagno, Leonardo Da Vinci, and later, Tintoretto), and adds a sense of depth due to the dramatic details and emotions it entails.
Caravaggio was an Italian painter most notably recognized for his immense contribution to the Baroque period. Depicting powerful yet ambiguous subject matter in paintings using realism and theatrical lighting techniques, spectators are left in awe after viewing one of his works. Caravaggio’s revolutionary take on painting would lead to the formation of the Caravaggisti, a group of followers that took inspiration and/or imitated the artistic style of Caravaggio, even without ever knowing or working alongside him. Caravaggism would disseminate across Europe by Italian and non-Italian painters, showing the impact of his expertise (Khan Academy). Bacchus by Caravaggio is a portrait of a young boy dressed in heavy drapery, offering the viewer a glass of wine. The depiction of his upper half, (a composition that would later be imitated by similar artists) is defined by the soft highlight that separates him from the background. His image is idealized yet realistic, having plump and smooth skin, rosy cheeks and lips, and perfectly carved eyebrows which juxtapose his muscular arm. One may wonder why such a youthful figure sits alongside aging fruit, perhaps it indicates the realization that life is temporary? The ambiguity of Caravaggio’s painting aligns in competence with that of his techniques, paving the way for his influence in the art world.
Bacchus
Caravaggio
1595 – 1596
Oil on canvas
Italian Baroque
Genre scenes were a popular style of painting during the Baroque period, depicting realistic moments from everyday life. Spanish painter Diego Velázquez painted Las Meninas in 1656, which shows King Philip and his queen’s daughter, Infanta Margarita, surrounded by her attendants. The royal couple and even Velázquez himself is shown in this painting, reflected in the mirror and (the latter) standing near a large canvas. Simply trying to interpret the composition of the subject matter is a fascination in itself; it appears as if we (the spectator) may very well be the King and Queen standing before our daughter who stares back at us, with Velázquez on the left painting the very portrait that is depicted here (Harris, Zucker). A light appears to be coming from the right side of the painting and shines directly on the centered young princess, creating shadows and indicating her as the focal point of the painting. One may even hone in on her eye contact along with that of Velázquez with the viewer, evoking an eerie yet inviting emotion. This interpretation takes the Baroque style of including the spectator in the same realm as the subject matter to another level, due to the depiction of light on notable features of the characters.
Las Meninas
Diego Velázquez
1656
Oil on canvas
Spanish Baroque
The Dream of Aeneas painted by Salvator Rosa, a history painting, tells the story of Aeneas who sleeps on the banks of the river Tiber. The God of the river, Tiber himself, kneels above him and carefully whispers that Aeneas will build his future city at this spot (Metmuseum.org). The use of light (or lack thereof) highlights the slightest parts of subject matter. Aeneas’ armor is featured dim and worn, emphasizing his exhausted state while the small patch of sky in the upper left reveals the dreary mood. It is interesting to note that Tiber himself is nearly depicted with the same amount of light as Aeneas (or even darker in fact), perhaps showcasing the idea that they have similar levels of capabilities and power in mythology.
The Dream of Aeneas
Salvator Rosa
1660 – 1665
Oil on canvas
Italian Baroque
The usage of light to highlight the importance of subject matter is evident in Baroque painting. This technique creates room for multiple interpretations and paved the way for future artistic styles and movements. Significantly, the depiction of light dramatically enhances the spectator’s experience, drawing emotional and intimate reactions which satisfies a prominent goal of the Baroque period.
References
Bacchus, 1596 by Caravaggio. Retrieved December 9, 2021, from https://www.caravaggio.org/bacchus.jsp.
Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker, Harris, D. B., & Zucker, D. S. Khan Academy. Velázquez, Las Meninas (video). Khan Academy. Retrieved December 9, 2021, from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial- americas/reformation-counter-reformation/v/vel-zquez-las-meninas-c-1656.
Khan Academy. Caravaggio and Caravaggisti in 17th-century Europe (article). Khan Academy. Retrieved December 9, 2021, from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance- reformation/baroque-art1/baroque-italy/a/caravaggio-and-caravaggisti-in-17th-century-europe.
Metmuseum.org. Retrieved December 9, 2021, from https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437507.
