Today in class we looked at Baroque art in the Low Countries (Flanders and Holland.) We began in Antwerp, looking at Peter Paul Rubens. Peter Paul Rubens was highly influenced by Caravaggio and was very successful with a large studio of artists working for him. One of the pieces we looked at was his Elevation of the Cross. This altarpiece was very large and depicted the scene of Christ being raised with the cross. The raising of the cross is frozen mid-action, in line with the Baroque ideal of instantaneous motion. The painting also has many powerful diagonals and emphasizes the contrast between light and dark. Thus strong musculature of the figures is similar to those painted in the Sistine Chapel. We then discussed Anthony Van Dyck, who worked in Ruben’s studio as a portrait artist. His portrait Charles I of England Hunting seems casual, casual, but his position on a hill above the viewer and horse bowing his head still give him the feeling of authority over the viewer.