Baroque architecture is a building style that emerged in the late 1600s and early 1700s as a result of the Baroque art and music movements. Baroque architecture, which originated in Italy, sought to add Catholic theatricality to the Renaissance’s more humanist developments. Baroque added ornamentation to basic designs, just as it did with art and music. The Catholic Church is the most important driving force behind Baroque architecture.
The architectural movement was more than a reaction to the Renaissance; it added new elements to architecture. Previous architectural designs, like painting, made better use of lighting than the Baroque. The dramatic intensity of such creations also lasted far longer than before. These were significant because the Catholic Church used Baroque to highlight the Counter-Reformation and demonstrate its wealth and power.
This type of architecture arose from a creative and musical movement. The artistic style, which dates back to the 16th century, made extensive use of lighting and dramatic motifs. To counter the serene calmness of Renaissance art, drama and lighting were used. Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn were two of the most famous Baroque painters. Johann Sebastian Bach, Claudio Monteverdi, Heinrich Schultz, and Antonio Vivaldi were among the composers who added ornamental elements to traditional themes in Baroque music.
Because the Baroque architecture movement began in Italy, the country is naturally home to many fine examples of the style. In 1718, Filippo Juvarra built the Basilica di Superga, and in 1729, he built the Palazzina di Stupinigi. In 1679, Guarino Guarini designed the Palazzo Carignano. The Piazza San Pietro and the Palazzo Barberini are two other fine examples of Baroque architecture. The Fontana Tritone and the Fontana della Baraccia are two fountains worth noting that are more artistic sculpture than architecture.
Baroque architecture spread throughout the Catholic world, including France and Spain. The cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, is an example. Salomon de Brosse’s Palais du Luxembourg and Francois Mansart’s Chateau de Maisons are both in France.
In more mixed and protestant areas, such as the Holy Roman Empire, Holland, and England, the architectural style spread. With the foundation of Portuguese cities in Brazil and Spanish cities throughout Mesoamerica, the style spread to the New World. Lorenzo Rodriguez’s Sagrario Metropolitano in Mexico City and Aleijadinho’s works in Brazil are two examples.
As the Papacy’s power waned, so did the popularity of Baroque architecture outside of Italy. Secular architecture and planning took over in France. Protestant countries, too, began to rediscover their own styles. While it remained the most popular style in Italy, other nations gained the confidence and power to create alternatives. It lasted the longest in colonies like Brazil.