L' estetica e la rappresentazione del potere : il 'Barocco trionfante' nella decorazione navale, emblema dell'autorita assolutista, esibizione delle armi e della gloria del Sovrano

Abstract

Before 1600, ships were barely decorated, however this changed because ships were playing an important role in the expansion of the known world. Cargo ships were becoming battle ships and thus they started to become more decorated. This decoration included painting and sculpture, but unfortunately it was not considered as an art form and rarely documented. This article describes the methods and decoration of ships during the Baroque period, and how these decorations served to represent the power and prestige of their owner.