080098 UE Course: The Battle for the Baroque: The Classicists vs. Caravaggisti in Seventeenth Century Rome (2023W)

This course will present painters from the two main artistic currents of seventeenth century Rome pinned against one another: the Classicists and the Caravaggisti. “The Battle for the Baroque” will tell the story of a rivalry that marked the artistic scene of the time as well as our taste and understanding of the Baroque period today. At present, Caravaggio and his followers are the most popular and admired artists because of their dramatic use of chiaroscuro as well as their painting's raw realism and theatricality. Nevertheless, this wasn't necessarily the case at the time. Those opposed to Caravaggio's realism strove to depict an ideal of beauty, reminiscent of that of the Renaissance, which was formed from the observation of the world's most beautiful things. “The Battle for the Baroque” will focus on the most celebrated painters of the time including Annibale Carracci, Caravaggio, the Gentileschis and Pietro da Cortona, whose works can be seen at Vienna’s main museums.

"The Battle for the Baroque" will be using Giovan Pietro Bellori's seminal work of biography and art criticism the Vite de' pittori scultori et architetti moderni (1672) as a lens through which to study the most prominent artists of seventeenth century Rome from a Classicist perspective. Students will become familiar with the foremost work of artistic literature in the seventeenth century–the Seicento and Roman counterpart to Giorgio Vasari's 1550's Vite, which revolved predominantly around Tuscan artists. This will be supplemented by readings from Giovanni Baglione’s 1642 Vite. The course will examine the two main artistic currents that dominated the Roman cultural scene in the Seicento as well as the complex networks and disputes that occurred within them. "The Battle for the Baroque" will also explore seventeenth century collecting practices as a way to understand how the Classicist and Caravaggesque taste was formed and has also evolved throughout the centuries. Additionally, the course will touch on topics such as the reception and re-elaboration of works as well as questions of legacy. "The Battle for the Baroque" will feature several outings to Vienna's foremost Old Master painting collections: The Kunsthistorisches Museum and Liechtenstein Collection. There, the class will discuss how the Baroque works have been organized and displayed at the museums. Students will be evaluated through the presentation of an artwork at one of the two museums as well as through a final assignment in which students will be asked to craft an imaginary exhibition. Religious, mythological and portrait works from the two contrasting painting styles will be presented and in dialogue with one other–this will serve as a visual aid to comprehend the stark differences between the two styles as well as their respective evolutions throughout time. Furthermore, students will be expected to submit fortnightly responses on Moodle.