Baroque Architects (c.1600-1750)

Introduction

Baroque art emerged during the second half of the 16th century, partly because of the prevailing political and religious uncertainty. The Protestant Reformation which began in 1517, cast doubt on the integrity and theology of the Roman Church across Europe. In due course, this led to the Catholic Counter-Reformation movement, launched by Rome, to reinspire the masses and woo them away from Protestantism. By the start of the 17th century, religious art in general, and Baroque architecture in particular, had become a significant element in this propaganda campaign, and was also exploited by absolutist Catholic monarchs to buttress their rule. Baroque sculpture was also harnessed to the cause, as was Baroque painting. Frequently, all these art forms were combined in churches, and some of the best Baroque paintings were integral elements of the architectural setting. See, for instance, the glorious ceiling murals of Pietro da Cortona and Andrea Pozzo.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
For a historical survey, see:
Architecture, History.
For explanation of terms, see:
Architecture Glossary.

ARCHITECT-SCULPTORS
A number of Baroque architects
also sculpted. For more, see:
Baroque Sculptors.

EVOLUTION OF VISUAL ART
For details of art movements
and styles, see: History of Art.
For a chronological guide to
key events in the development
of visual arts around the globe
see: History of Art Timeline.

WORLD'S GREATEST ART
For a list of the Top 10 painters/
sculptors: Best Artists of All Time.
For the best oils/watercolours,
see: Greatest Paintings Ever.
For the best plastic art,
see: Greatest Sculptures Ever.

The Baroque Style of Architecture

Think of Baroque as a much more emotional, more elaborate, more illusionistic form of Renaissance architecture, with greater manipulation of light, colour, texture and perspective. It boasted more ostentatious exteriors; more complex less geometric but more unified floor-plans; a whole new series of trompe l'oeil effects, plus a host of wall and ceiling fresco decorations. All these architectural features were designed to dazzle the spectator, as were the surroundings of the building itself. This is exemplified above all by Bernini's design of St Peter's Square (1656-67) - in front of the domed St Peter's Basilica in Rome - whose architecture has received praise throughout the centuries for the elegance of its sublime classical proportions.

Famous Baroque Architects

Here is a list of the leading exponents of Baroque architecture, together with their major design projects.

ITALY

Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola (1507-73)
Classical Italian architect in style of Late Renaissance and Early Baroque.
- St Peter's Domes, Vatican (1564)
- The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus (Il Gesu) (1568)

Pietro da Cortona (1596-1669)
Architect to Pope Urban VIII.
- SS. Luca e Martina (1635-64, Rome)
- St Maria della Pace, facade (1656-7, Rome)
- St Maria in Via Lata (1658-62, Rome)
See also: Quadratura, the illusionistic architectural painting technique.

Bernini (1598-1680)
The greatest of all Baroque architects and sculptors.
- Palazzo Barberini (1628-32, Rome)
- St Peter's Square (1656-67)
- St Andrea al Quirinale (1658-71, Rome)

Francesco Borromini (1599-1667)
Lifelong rival of Bernini.
- St Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (1634-68, Rome)
- Palazzo Sapienza and St Ivo alla Sapienza, dome/facade (1640-60, Rome)
- St Agnese in Agone (1653, Rome)

See also: Andrea Pozzo (1642-1709), the great quadraturista and architect.
See also Italian Baroque Artists.

FRANCE

Francois Mansart (1598-1666)
Father of French Classicism.
- Chateau Berny (1623-27)
- Chateau de Blois, Loire (1638)
- Val de Grace Church, Paris (1645)

Louis Le Vau (1612-70)
Main co-architect of the Palace of Versailles.
- Hotel Lambert (1642-4, Paris)
- Saint-Sulpice (1646, Paris)
- Marble Court (1669, Palace of Versailles)

Jules Hardouin Mansart (1646-1708)
Main co-architect of the Palace of Versailles & dome of Les Invalides in Paris
- Chateau de Marly (1679-86, Marly-le-Roi)
- Dome of Les Invalides (1679-91, Paris)
- Grand Trianon (1687-8, Palace of Versailles)

See also German Baroque Artists.

SPAIN/PORTUGAL

Alonso Cano (1601-1667)
Versatile artist, architect - nicknamed the "Spanish Michelangelo".
- Granada Cathedral 1667

Churriguera Family of Spanish Baroque Sculptors and Architects
The leading architects of their time; active in Salamanca; employed a highly decorated style of architecture (Churrigueresque).
- Jose Benito de Churriguera (1665-1725)
- Joaquin de Churriguera (1674-1724)
- Alberto de Churriguera (1676-1750)

Pedro de Ribera (1681-1742)
One of the most important architects of the Late Baroque period in Madrid.
- Ucles Monastery (1735)
- Church of San Cayetano (1722–1737)
- Church of San Jose (1730)
- Torrecilla Palace (1716–1731)

Niccolo Nasoni (Nicolau Nasoni) (1691-1773)
Influential Italian architect active in Portugal; noted for "talha dourada".
- Episcopal Palace of Porto (1734)
- Palace of Sao Joao o Novo, Porto (1723–1733)
- Palace of Freixo, Porto (1750)

BRITAIN

Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726)
Leader of the short-lived English Baroque architectural style.
- Castle Howard, Yorkshire (1702-12)
- Blenheim Palace (1705-22)

CENTRAL EUROPE

Dientzenhofer Family of German Architects
The leading building designers of their time in Bohemian and German Baroque.
Georg Dientzenhofer (1643–1689)
Wolfgang Dientzenhofer (1648–1706)
Christoph Dientzenhofer (1655-1722)
Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer (1689–1751)
Leonhard Dientzenhofer (1660–1707)
Johann Dientzenhofer (1663–1726)
Justus Heinrich Dientzenhofer (1702–1744)
- The Church of St. Nicolas in Prague, by Christoph and Kilian Dientzenhofer.
- Facade of the St. Michael Church, Bamberg, by Leonhard Dientzenhofer
- Banz Abbey by Leonhard and Johann Dientzenhofer.
- Kinsky Palace, Prague by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer
- Seehof's Orangerie, Bamberg, by Justus Heinrich Dientzenhofer

Jakub Auguston (1668-1735)
Bohemian Baroque architect in west Bohemia.
- Chotesov Abbey (c.1700)
- Nebilovy Castle (c.1710)

Jan Blazej Santini Aichel (1677-1723)
Czech architect noted for his mixture of Gothic and Baroque designs.
- Convent of the Cistercian Monastery, Plasy (1711–1723)
- Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk (1719–1727)
- Church of St Peter and Paul in Horni Bobrova (1714)

RUSSIA

It wasn't until the era of Petrine art under Tsar Peter the Great (1686-1725), that foreign architectural designers like Rastrelli, Andreas Schluter, and Leblond introduced the style of Russian Baroque - using elements drawn from Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical art.

Bartolomeo Rastrelli (1700-1771)
Responsible for Russian Baroque.
- Smoly Cathedral (1748-57, St Petersburg)
- Winter Palace (1754-62, St Petersburg)
- Redesign of Catherine's Palace (1756, near St Petersburg)

Prince Dmitry Vasilyevich Ukhtomsky (1719–1774)
Chief architect in Moscow, during the reign of Empress Elizabeth. His pupils included Matvei Kazakov, Ivan Starov, Alexander Kokorinov, and other masters who graduated from Moscow architectural school founded by Ukhtomsky 1749.
- Church of Martyr Nikita (1740s).

NETHERLANDISH

There was little new religious architecture in Flanders or Holland, not least because the area was mostly Protestant. Other forms of Baroque did survive, however. For details, see: Flemish Baroque Art and Dutch Baroque Art. For more about the Dutch Golden Age of painting, see: Dutch Realist School (c.1600-80) and Dutch Realist artists.

• For more about the origins & development of painting/sculpture, see: Art Encyclopedia.