Baroque

It did not get its name, however, until the late 18th century. Meaning ‘irregular’ or ‘bizarre’, Baroque was initially used in a derogatory sense. The style grew out of Mannerism and spread from Italy throughout much of Europe. It was not widely embraced in the Netherlands, however, where classicism prevailed from 1620 onwards. Baroque was all about complexity and drama, with contorted postures, intense light-dark contrasts and theatrical effects, often at a grand scale that was intended to trigger the emotions of the viewer. This effect was also achieved by combining disciplines such as architecture, garden design, and visual and applied arts. Predominantly Catholic rulers and church leaders adopted the baroque style as an instrument of propaganda to simultaneously impress and persuade.