Baroque Rome

Art, Politics and Symbolism

Contents

Lesson 1

The Baroque Between Politics, Theology, and Art

The first lesson introduces the historical context in which Baroque arises and develops, analyzing the relationship between art, politics, and religion.

• The European Political Landscape in the 16th and 17th Century: An overview of the tensions between monarchies, nation-states, and the power of the Church.
• The Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation: The role of art as a tool of communication and propaganda used by the Church to reaffirm its authority after the spread of Protestantism.
• The Jubilee: The importance of pilgrimages and religious celebrations as moments of strengthening the Catholic faith and the centrality of Rome.

The lesson continues with an analysis of the artistic language of the Baroque, which becomes the vehicle for a precise political and theological message.

• Caravaggio and the Revolutionary Painting: Dramatic realism, the use of light, and emotional involvement in his sacred works.
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Theatrical Sculpture: The illusion of movement and the fusion of architecture and sculpture, as seen in the famous Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.
• Francesco Borromini and Dynamic Architecture: The use of curved lines, articulated spaces, and innovative solutions to create environments with a great emotional impact.
• The Iconography of Power: How art and urban planning were used to exalt the authority of the Church and the great patrons of the era.

This lesson helps understand how the Baroque is not only an artistic phenomenon but also a political and religious tool, which redefined the visual identity of Papal Rome.

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Lesson 2

The Baroque in the City – A Journey Through the Monuments of Rome

The second lesson focuses on the historical-artistic analysis of the Baroque monuments and squares in Rome, which represent a perfect example of how art was used to guide, surprise, and engage the viewer.

Itinerary of Baroque Wonders

• Piazza di Spagna: The heart of Roman elegance, with the famous staircase that connects Baroque urban planning to the modern city.
• Bernini’s Fountain of the Barcaccia: A work that highlights the fusion between sculpture and urban landscape.
• Trevi Fountain: The masterpiece of late Baroque, a symbol of the control of water and monumental scenography.
• Antonine Column: A testimony of the continuity between classical and Baroque art in depicting imperial and papal power.
• Palazzo del Parlamento: Civil architecture and the representation of political power in Baroque Rome.
• Augustan Obelisk: The rediscovery of antiquity as a decorative and symbolic element in 17th-century Rome.
• Pantheon: The transformation of the greatest temple of antiquity into a Christian church, with impressive Baroque decorations.
• Saint Ignatius and Santa Maria sopra Minerva: Two examples of Baroque churches that use perspective illusionism and grand decorations to exalt the mysticism of faith.
• Piazza Navona: The perfect example of Baroque urban space, dominated by Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers and Borromini’s Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone.

This lesson will allow you to explore Roman Baroque in its concrete dimension, walking through the city’s streets to observe and directly understand the meaning of this style within the urban fabric.

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Module Objective

By the end of the module, participants will have acquired a detailed knowledge of Baroque Rome, with a particular focus on its historical, artistic, and urban aspects. They will learn to narrate the city’s transformations through the dialogue between painting, sculpture, and architecture, offering an engaging and in-depth narration during guided tours.