Recenzie

Abstract

The Baroque age is an emotionally intense period in the history of Europe. The Catholic Church and other despots, all convinced of their divine right to rule, realised the significance of manifesting their grandeur through secular enterprises. They became patrons of architecture, including urban planning and fortifications, and the arts, ranging from painting to sculpture to theatre. Baroque was a period characterised by a yearning for power wielded through violence in the context of ideological and religious intolerance notably towards scientific theories which challenged Biblical notions. Further to the extravagant designs of buildings, both sacred and secular, and the pursuit of art and life within, the theatrical expressions favoured by autocratic rulers varied from dancing with lavish costumes in popular festivals to religious ceremonies relating to life and death and included sadism expressed through the staging of the public execution of individuals who had dared to challenge the status quo. This insight proves that the optimal method to discern the Baroque age is by adopting a holistic study of the period.