Artists of the baroque period

Baroque paintings make up some of the most notable works of art history as many of the artists from the movement are known as some of the most masterful painters of all time. The Baroque movement stems from the period in history during the 16th and 17th centuries when the Catholic church experienced what many view as a revival of artistic inclination that was aimed at portraying some of the most well-known moments of the Christian faith in single works of art.

Instead of movements that came before it, Baroque paintings actually consist of a wide range of distinct styles which comprised what we now see as the Baroque movement as a whole. These paintings were often characterized by their extreme level of dramatization of certain events while also incorporating a very high level of realistic detail along with stark contrasts between light and darkness.

Baroque art examples

Many of the greatest masterpieces of Baroque art are still considered some of the greatest paintings ever created. Here are 10 of the most famous Baroque paintings ever done. Diego Velazquez was a true master when it came to painting subjects in a way that captured the personality of each figure represented in the work. Such was the case, according to art historians and critics, in his work titled Las Meninas.

This painting featured the Spanish royal family gathered together in a section of the Royal Alcazar of Madrid. The painting is widely recognized for its unique characteristics as it portrays the royal family in much of a candid light as many of the individuals included in the painting were well-known throughout the Spanish nobility circles of the day.

In the painting, we see a young girl, Infanta Margaret Theresa, who was the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain being fitted for a dress by some of the servants of the royal court. Velazquez also decided to include himself in the work as he is depicted as standing behind a canvas, paintbrush in hand.