Throughout the course of history, there have been many drastic changes in western culture, but perhaps two of the most well known expansions in art, science, and thinking in general, took place during the Renaissance and the Baroque periods. Though both of the said points in time undoubtedly each have their own merits, it is when both are examined simultaneously that one can witness the scope and magnitude that each affected the other. Perhaps one of the defining factors of both of these eras is the gradual separation of theology from all other fields, as opposed to the middle ages, and this reality is arguably best manifested in the realm of art. Moreover, it is the content and the style of these classical works that truly show the broadening
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This change of artistic focus is illustration of a profound change in the content in the art of that time. With this new way of thinking, life became less of a means to an end, or rather a preparation for death, but more of a time of exploration. This is shown in both a shameless view of the human anatomy and a greater appreciation of nature, whereas earlier works preferred to shun these necessities in favor of exemplifying the majesty of heaven. The Renaissance was the rediscovering of the old Roman ways of thinking, relearning to appreciate perfection of nature and the beauty of the human form, but it was the Baroque period, which took Renaissance ideas to the next level. During the early to mid 1600s, artists began using brighter colors to depict lavish scenes in contrast to the plainer, simpler sublimity of earlier, sixteenth century works. This style correlated well with contrast and diversity within the issues of the day including the split between the Protestant reformers and the Roman Catholic Church. The Baroque period also employed a more lighthearted and romantic tone, as demonstrated by Venetian painter Canaletto and English painter William Hogarth, to be distinguished with Renaissance painters Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da
This change of artistic focus is illustration of a profound change in the content in the art of that time. With this new way of thinking, life became less of a means to an end, or rather a preparation for death, but more of a time of exploration. This is shown in both a shameless view of the human anatomy and a greater appreciation of nature, whereas earlier works preferred to shun these necessities in favor of exemplifying the majesty of heaven. The Renaissance was the rediscovering of the old Roman ways of thinking, relearning to appreciate perfection of nature and the beauty of the human form, but it was the Baroque period, which took Renaissance ideas to the next level. During the early to mid 1600s, artists began using brighter colors to depict lavish scenes in contrast to the plainer, simpler sublimity of earlier, sixteenth century works. This style correlated well with contrast and diversity within the issues of the day including the split between the Protestant reformers and the Roman Catholic Church. The Baroque period also employed a more lighthearted and romantic tone, as demonstrated by Venetian painter Canaletto and English painter William Hogarth, to be distinguished with Renaissance painters Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da