Renaissance or Baroque?
The Renaissance was an age of enlightenment. It saw the re-evaluation of theological and artistic ideas and the reintroduction of those ideas that had diminished through the development of society. Artistically speaking, the Renaissance saw the emergence of a style of art that was discouraged by the Catholic church. It shifted the focus of artistic pieces from rigorously theological, to those focused on more worldly, humanistic views (The Art Institute of Chicago).
The Baroque does not contrast tremendously to the Renaissance, for both are magnificent, evolutionary styles. Both embody the ideas of their ages, for their ages are different thereby are the ideas embodied different. In the age that saw the introduction of Baroque, Europe was undergoing a period of political turmoil and religious dispute. Baroque varies from the secular pieces of those artists who embraced Renaissance art, for it revolved around the counter-reformation, commonly depicting biblical images (The Art Institute of Chicago).
Albeit the ideology depicted contrasts, it is not the sole aspect from which these styles can be viewed. They also differ from a technical viewpoint. The ways in which they differ are best embodied by the Swiss art historian Heinrich Wöffler, listed by Rice University. These are ‘composition, form, unity, clarity and subject (ideology)’ (Rice University).
Moreover, the formerly discussed only refers to visual art, but not musical. The music of both these styles also contrasted, similar to the visual art of both. In music, this is mostly technical, unlike the ideology in visual art. The musical elements that differ are tone color, texture, harmony, rhythm, melody and form (Poultney).
Both Renaissance and Baroque are styles that have contributed immensely to art, both musically and also visually. They have defined art, developed it into what it is today. Both styles have produced renowned artists. Albeit they contrast much technically and the ideology that they seek to depict, both have had an equally proportional effect on society and art.