Episode 64: Northern Baroque: The Basics

This is the second installment of our "The Basics" Series with Lauren and Chloe.

After the Reformation instigated by Martin Luther's 95 Thesis, the Dutch Republic was predominantly Calvinist though there were still many Catholics in the country and grouped together and lived in what was called the Papist Corner of Delft.

The Protestant reformation brought on a wave of iconoclasm (the destruction of religious imagery believed to be a form of idolatry). And in the North, in the Netherlands at least, Protestants shied away from religious symbols. Because of this genre and interior scenes became very popular.

Unlike other parts of Europe at this time the Netherlands had a newly emerging middle class influencing the art of the day. Because of this Baroque art in the North was very different than Baroque art found in Italy.

Vermeer, Girl with a Red Hat, 1668

Vermeer, Woman with a Water Jug, 1662

Frans Hals, The Laughing Cavalier, 1624

Frans Hals, Regents of the St Elizabeth Hospital of Haarlem,1641

Pieter de Hooch, The Courtyard of a House in Delft, 1677

Pieter de Hooch, Women Drinking with Soldiers, 1658

Rembrandt, 

Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer, 1653

Rembrandt, The Night Watch, 1642

And from the Flemish Baroque:

Rubens, The Elevation of the Cross, 1610

Rubens, The Three Graces, 1635

Check back next Wednesday for our newest podcast on Poster Art with Lauren and Julia. Also, join us on Facebook! You can also find all of our past episodes on iTunes U (link is in the side bar).