The Beauty of Baroque

Baroque, originally meant as a derogatory term, has come to mean dynamic theatricality, elaborate ornamentation, spectacular dramatic depictions, and grandiose scale.

Unlike the architecture of the High Renaissance, for example, Andrea Palladio’s Rotonda, with its simple and classical lines, Baroque architecture sings with a complex mix of expressionism, fancifulness, and frills. Consider as an example, Carlo Maderno’s Santa Susanna; “one of the earliest manifestations of the Baroque artistic spirit.” The façade of this church shoots unapologetically skywards to the heavens. Whereas the Rotonda, contained in its neat and tidy central axis plan, seems to amble horizontally, never stepping out of its prescribed boundaries. Different as they are, they do share one similarity, rhythm; perfectly placed columns and pilasters serving to further define the space. Maderno obviously borrowed from Palladio and perhaps Della Porta too. Nevertheless, he kept with the theme of the time, to make the Catholic Church and its representations the supreme demonstration of religion. Maderno’s condensed façade concentrates and dramatizes its major features: the statue filled niches, which “create pockets of shadow, heightening the sculptural effect,’ the sharply angled scroll buttresses, and the finishing pediment with its dramatically projecting carving.

On the heels of Santa Susanna, Maderno, commission by Pope Paul V, set about designing a monumental façade for Saint Peter’s Basilica. Building upon Santa Susanna, Maderno created a façade in the giant order. Everything about this façade is “loud and proud.” You’d have to be from another planet to miss the symbolic nature of this imposing edifice: We are the Catholic Church. We are supreme. We are all powerful. Behold us. Its column bases’ are taller than the average man. It’s doorways and windows are the sizes of houses and small office buildings. Ornately capped columns, of the giant order, support the building’s upper level and dramatically carved cornice. Acroteria gaze down upon the religious pilgrims who come to behold the supremacy within. It’s clearly Baroque and it dares you to confuse it with any other building.
http://www.saintpetersbasilica.org/Docs/JLM/SaintPeters-9.htm#nave
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13369b.htm

The Catholic Church clearly wanted to reestablish itself, as part of its counter-reformation activities, as the center of all righteous religious activity. The grandiose expenditures fortified its power center and sent a clear message to all would-be doubters that the Church stood strong and provided generously for its worshipers. The giant order building projects furthered its standing as the most powerful geo-political body in the world. Then as in today, the Church used its deep pockets to prove its infallibility and godliness.