Baroque art included paintings, sculptures and architecture.
The dominance of the Baroque style of art from the 16th through 18th centuries makes it a clear contender as the subject of a variety of art and art history projects. The distinctive Baroque style serves as an inspiration for creating or recreating art pieces, and the cultural and social impact of this art movement provides ample information for a range of art history projects.
Baroque Collage
Though the Baroque period era ended during the 18th century, inspirations from the art style are still present in modern-day sculpture, design, architecture and even media advertising. To bring the Baroque style into the modern day, design a project in which students create Baroque-inspired mixed media collages. Challenge students to seek out examples of Baroque-inspired design in modern buildings or print advertisements and to incorporate the elements into a collage or shadow box. The project encourages students to create a bridge between the past and contemporary designs.
Art and Music
The Baroque period was not only defined by its art but also for the Baroque style of music. Composers like Handel and Bach are two of the most prominent figures of the Baroque music period, and their pieces reflect the same preference for ornamentation and flourish that defines Baroque art. Incorporate elements of Baroque music into a Baroque art project. Ask students to create pairs of Baroque art pieces and music pieces they feel complement one another. A written explanation of the relationship between the two pieces requires students to analyze and evaluate their choices.
Baroque Photographs
Human figures were common features of Baroque paintings and many of the most classic Baroque paintings are figure paintings of individuals or groups of people. For an engaging group project, instruct students to recreate classic Baroque paintings through tableau photographs. Students stage the painting's background and dress as the figures in the painting in a realistic, real-life recreation. Another option is to challenge students to recreate a painting but to update it with modern dress, accessories and props while still maintaining the integrity of the original piece. During class, invite other groups to identify the original painting the group has tried to recreate.
Baroque Stories
Baroque artists used paintings to create realistic portrayals of everyday life, as well as to bring religious themes and stories into realistic situations. Baroque paintings were interested in telling a story through visual representations. Create an interdepartmental project in which students choose a piece of Baroque art and create a story, poem or play based on the image in the art. Students may use the image in the art as well as background information about the artists or history of the piece to create their written stories. Students then read their stories aloud or recruit classmates to perform their pieces for the class.
