Die Kunst des Barock: Architektur, Skulptur, Malerei

by Rolf Toman

Almost 200 years of Baroque art are presented in striking images and thought-provoking text--capturing the theatrical pathos, illusionistic devices, and interplay of different styles that made 17th- and 18th-century European culture extravagant, showy, and even pretentious. An in-depth study of moving works of art from various European countries exposes the sensual beauty of these objects as well as their allegorical representation of religious beliefs. B&W & color photos. 11" x 12 1/2".

Genres: Art, Architecture, Nonfiction, History, Reference, Art History, Design

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Originally, Rolf Toman wanted to become a teacher but he spent the years following his second state exam working as a publishing editor at a large international publishing house. From 1992 onwards, he worked as an independent publisher for various international publishing houses. Publications on art history epochs were at the center of his work.

Reviews

[Bibliothecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, along with the author's other work on Gothic, the largest book I own. They are enormous and it is a good thing too: they are filled with beautiful photographs of architecture and art, especially the former. They're gorgeous photographs with great print and colour quality making this an all around gem of a book.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely coffee table survey of the Baroque period in European Architecture, Sculpture and Painting. Well written, beautifully illustrated with colour plates and superbly put together, the hardest part seemed to be to define the boundaries of Baroque, both in style and date. The architecture section, especially the Roman church design, is magnificent.

[Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good collections, but the quality of pictures are bad

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

HRV: Pročitano za nastavu na faksu i korišteno u seminarima.

ENG: Read for my college classes and used for seminars.

[?0?0?0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A splendid collection of all things baroque, tremendous photographs, just perfect.

[Raphaela Folia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ωραία εικονογράφηση, ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο, αρκετά επεξηγηματικό με απλά λόγια-λέξεις! Το συστήνω για όποιον θέλει να ασχοληθεί με τέχνες και με την συγκεκριμένη περίοδο

[Al Maki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere on this site I saw five stars described as “It was amazing.” So this book gets five because the Baroque faithfully presented amazes. It’s a beautifully photographed catalogue of Baroque works across all of Europe and it demonstrates how gorgeous and splendid and varied this style was. Politically it’s function may have been to awe people the better to repress and exploit them but it was beautiful.

I got the book specifically to familiarize myself with the architecture, and as the text points out the function of much of that was to provide a setting for the display of power. The painting and music of the time often had quite different intents and effects, and can’t be considered primarily magnificent propaganda (which I believe is a term coined during the period).

[Michael Heath-Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive well done book on the exuberant Baroque period - 2007 edition

[keereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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