Epochal term for the art of the 17th century. Baroque art style that emanated from Rome in 1600 permeated fine arts, literature and music practically all over Europe within a very short time and lasted until 1770 in the fine arts. The last phase is generally characterized by the rococo.

Characteristic features include: the pulsating movement of all forms, the abolition of boundaries between architecture, painting and sculpture, that resulted in typical for the era synthesis of the arts, and especially in specific handling of light, which became an important artistic component. The subordination of the part to the whole led to the emergence of a single and, at the same time, dynamic space, which comes into full effect in the magnificent buildings of its time.

The Baroque art, with its tendency towards greatness, magnificence and rushing abundance clearly reflects the desire for representation, which was a concern of secular and ecclesiastical, especially Catholic customers strengthened through Counter-Reformation of that time. In painting, characteristic features of the Baroque, are manifested in the altar and ceiling painting, history and portrait.

The area of the sculpture is typically represented by such artists as Anthony van Dyck, Peter Paul Rubens, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and others.

Related links:
Rococo

Ceramic product made from kaolin, quartz and feldspar.

Porcelain is formed by turning or pressing. Figural representations are cast. Complex molds have to be cast in sections and then "applied". After molding, the pieces are dried and "burnt" at about 900 °C. After that, the glaze is applied and fired at temperatures between 1,240 °C and 1,445 °C. In major manufactures, the porcelain is painted by hand with each color separately and has to be burned in compliance with narrow temperature tolerances.

The porcelain was invented in China and became widespread in Europe in the 16th century. The first European porcelain factory was founded in Meissen in 1710.

Other famous European porcelain factories are Fürstenberg, Höchst, Schwarzburger Werkstätten, Lladró, Nymphenburg, KPM, Augarten, Sèvres, Limoges, Royal Copenhagen, Worcester. Individual factories label their products with the porcelain brands that serve to identify their origin.

Related links:
Schwarzburg Workshops of the Porcelain Art
Lladró