Counter Reformation Art
Reformation and the Counter Reformation periods are notable periods and as tempting as it might seem for me to comment, state and discuss these moments, I will only elaborate upon the definitions and meanings so that we can thoroughly enjoy the art resulting from the Counter Reformation period and also the Reformation art.
Reformation and Counter Reformation
Before we know anything about Counter Reformation and its art, we need to find out what was the Counter Reformation and Reformation. The two movements are very closely related to each other and the Reformation or the Protestant Reformation started with criticism of some incidences of corruption by some members of the clergy. This criticism turned into a wide scale movement and the Christian faith was split into two parts, that is Catholic and Protestant Church. There are several points where the differentiation line can be drawn even today, and in the days of the Reformation the difference was drastic, for one, Catholics followed the Holy Church and the teachings of the Pope whereas, the Protestants followed the Holy Bible. In the years of the 14th century, there were several reforms that changed some of the churches in central and Northern Europe and Great Britain. With an eminent change in some of the regions, the Holy Church of Vatican launched a series of Counter Reformation movements to win over of the reformed churches. Apart from that, the drawbacks of the Holy Roman Catholic Church were also resolved, and within a short span of a couple of decades, the Catholic church won over several of reformed churches and regions in mainland Europe, though several other regions and their people such as North European regions and Great Britain remained Protestant. The Counter Reformation timeline starts with the Council of Trent in 1545 and ends with the 30 Years War in 1648, lasting for about a decade.
Catholic Counter Reformation Art
A very important meeting that started off Counter Reformation was the Council of Trent, which was summoned by Pope Paul III. This council existed from 1545 to 1563 and councilmen met periodically in this time span. The first objective of the council was to rectify the drawbacks of the church and then start the actual counter movement. Apart from literature, one very good form of getting people's attention was art.
The art that was painted in this time was largely religious and depicted Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. Often this period is credited to be a time where Mannerism was at its finest. In the times following 1520, several artists, painted incidences from the life of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. The Church and the Inquisition which was set up by the Church, made a detailed examination of the paintings. Mannerism, in that period involved depiction of Christ and Mother Mary, plus an added sense of spirituality and a very, very in depth expression by Holy figures within the painting. The Virgin and Child Adored by Angels and the The Elevation of the Cross, are two paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, which are known for their energy and a highly realistic depiction of Biblical events. The Massacre of the Innocents are two famous paintings by Alte Pinakothek and Peter Paul Rubens, depicting an incidence from the Gospel of Matthew. El Greco's works such as The Assumption of the Virgin and The Disrobing of Christ are two very fascinating and interesting works of time period. The color play, is simply wonderful. Adoration of the Magi and The crowning of the Virgin, were two favorite themes of the artists of the time.
The Holy Roman Catholic church and the Inquisition took measures wherein against the doctrine of prevalent themes of paintings. For example, Paolo Veronese was ordered to change, The Feast in the House of Levi, a depiction of the Last Supper which was on the wall of a refectory.
Another dynamic style of painting and art creation that originated in this era is Baroque art. The Baroque art is basically piece of work that tends to have a serious motion in it. Adoration, by Rubens shows the scene of Jesus and Mary, and the entire scene is a significant snap shot that captures a certain motion from every character. Ecstasy of Saint Theresa is a well-known sculpture of Baroque art in the Cornaro Chapel, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome. There are countless examples of Baroque art in the post Counter Reformation period and several churches that were built post this period depict Counter Reformation style of architecture.
One certain thing about this type of art is that since it came to prominence post the Renaissance in Italy, it was highly evolved, not to mention the sophistication and accuracy level that is signified.
