We began class by wrapping up our study of Dutch Baroque art. We spent time discussing the different areas of specialization that were prominent among Dutch artists. These included landscapes, church interiors, still-life, and genre scenes. Different artists would focus on different specialized subjects. This reflects the changing art economy, which shifted from largely commission-based to a free market. Specialization allowed artists to differentiate themselves from their competitors. One thing that stuck out to me was the still life by Rachel Ruysch, especially as the painting constructed this “impossible” bouquet. Still-life paintings allowed the artist to combine elements to create an ideal arrangement. In this case, not all of the flowers within Ruysch’s painting would have been blooming at the same time.
We later transitioned into studying Baroque Art in France, taking a closer look at works created to project the absolutism of Louis XIV. The Palace of Versailles is an example of how art and architecture embodied Louis XIV’s sense of absolute power and divine right. I was particularly fascinated by the axis on which the palace was built, and how the movement of the sun was taken into account when placing the King’s bedroom on the central axis.