THE AGE OF BERNINI
Giovanni Guercino Painter, Pietro da Cortona, Architect/Painter,
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Sculptor/Architect, &
Francesco Borromini, Architect & Rival of Bernini
INCLUDES: Tour of the Exhibition
Bernini and the Birth of Baroque Portrait Sculpture at the Getty Center Museum

PROF. RONALD E. STEEN
Art Historian & Art Educator

Ten Sessions: Tuesdays, September 30, through December 9, 2008 , 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. , 
Tour date: Oct. 21^st.
(Excluding Thanksgiving week, Tuesday, November 25^th)

ABOUT THE BAROQUE AND THE SERIES: Chronologically, the term “Baroque” applies to the art of the 17^th century.  Traditionally applied to the Catholic art of the Counter Reformation, the baroque actually embraces all the countries, Catholic and Protestant, of Western Europe .  Compared with the immediately preceding Renaissance and Mannerist styles, the Baroque is far more varied in its manifestations.  A naturalistic current coexists with a classicist or decorative one.  Clear differences separate the Italian tradition of the period from that of the Netherlands and the French tradition from the Spanish, Austrian and English.   Part I covered the work of the painters, Vicenzo Campi, Bartolomeo Passerotti, Annibale, Lodovico & Agostino Carracci, Guido Reni and the Architect Carlo Maderno.  Please note that this first series included the work of two women artists Sofonisba Anguisola and Lavina Fontana.  Part II covered the work of the Italian painter Caravaggio who influenced the development of Catholic Baroque art in Italy as well as art in all European countries.  While Part II covered the work of father and daughter artists Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi as well as Domenichino.  Part IV will cover the dynamic age of Bernini, sculptor/architect, including his contemporary, architect Pietro da Cortona, the painter Giovanni Guercino and Bernini’s rival architect, Borromini.  A tour of the “Bernini and the Birth of Baroque Portrait Sculpture” at the Getty Museum is included.  This exhibition will showcase the dazzling sculpture virtuosity of the Italian Baroque portrait bust.
                Subsequent series will cover the work in Italy of Luca Giordano, Gaulli and Pozzo.  The Baroque in Holland will include Hals, Rembrandt, Sanredam and Vermeer, the genre painters. Bouwer, Leyster, Ter Borch, Metsu, De Hooch and Jan Steen as well as marine, landscape and still-life painting.  In France the Baroque will include Geroges de La Tour, Poussin, Claude Lorrain and the Architect Charles Le Brun.  Baroque in Austria will include Johann van Erlach, Lucas von Hildebrandt and Balthazar Neumann.  Baroque in Spain will include El Greco, Jusepe De Ribera, Velasquez and Cotan and in Flanders the work of Brughel, Rubens and in England Anthony van Dyck.  

ABOUT THE SERIES FORMAT: The series will present the works of the artists in chronological order and will include information about their work, techniques, influences, style, and life and their significance for the history of Baroque art country by country.  Further information about characteristics of the period as well as a cast of characters will be included.  This series will include the state of the research on this topic at this time in history.  The current facts as known not how the facts were acquired will be the focus.  Works in local public collections in Southern California will be highlighted.

NOTE: This series is complete unto itself and not having been part of prior series on the art of the Italian Renaissance including Mannerism Part I or II will not cause participants any disadvantages.  

GUIDELINES:  
-         Membership is not extended beyond registered members and membership is not transferable.
-         Cancellation made prior to September 1, 2008 will be in full less a small handling charge.
-         No full or partial refund will be paid after September 1, 2008 , unless there is a waiting list.
-         A member may bring one guest free to any one lecture during the course of the series.