Baroque - Episode 3

Good morning, we are continuing with our exploration of Baroque Art.  Waldemar Januszczak’s journey will end in this final episode.  This time Waldemar Januszczak finds himself in England exploring the impact of Baroque art on England.  The run time for this episode is 59:38.

England was stuck in the Middle Ages when Baroque was taking over the world.  The Renaissance had not even arrived on England’s shores either.  Crossing the Channel was difficult and there was much English resistance to new art.  Januszczak states that “England, artistically speaking was backward.”  Religious forces kept the Baroque from getting into England.  Events of the Reformation made people suspicious of the pope.

The Baroque would arrive in England.  Events would prove tragic.  Januszczak travels through England and begins at the Royal Observatory and the Greenwich Sailors Hospital.  The key building was the Queen’s House.  It had been designed by Anne of Denmark and it would prove to be an important building in English history.  It was the Renaissance and Baroque periods rolled into one building.  Januszczak tours the Queen’s house.  Januszczak sums up the Queen’s house as a tiny crack that brought Baroque into England.

King Charles I would force that crack wide open.  He was a man who absolutely believed in the divine right of kings.  Januszczak surmises that he was the one king that had a taste.  He talks about Charles I and his physical disadvantages.  Eventually, he became a man of art.  Januszczak talks about Charles I’s marriage prospects and talks about a potential Hapsburg marriage.  The English were suspicious of a Catholic princess.  While Charles was in Spain, he was taken around the royal residences and was introduced to Baroque.  He was introduced to Rubens’ work.  Even though the marriage fell through, Charles became a man mad about art.  It would be something that would prove his downfall.

Januszczak then tours the Banqueting House and shows the only painted ceiling by Rubens.  This banqueting house was supposed to be the home of the celebration of the marriage between England and Spain, but that failed.  It was called the greatest painted ceiling north of the Alps.  Rubens was sent to England as part of a diplomatic mission.  The painting shows James I ascending to heaven and being crowned by the gods.  It tells the story of the union of the crown between England and Scotland.  The painting had been painted in Antwerp and shipped over.  King Charles I was so impressed he showered Rubens with gifts.  However, the painting showed Charles to be an absolute believer in the divine right of kings, which made the people uneasy.  Januszczak says that this would have been the last painting Charles I saw before he was beheaded.

Januszczak continues his exploration of Charles I.  He was a man addicted to art.  He would send agents out to purchase the greatest artworks they could find.  Their instruction was to buy, buy, buy.  There were a variety of masterpieces added to the Royal collection.  Charles I also patronized the arts and brought artists into the English court.  Van Dyck was invited to live in England.  His arrival shocked the nation because it was as if he came from another planet.  He was a favorite of the ladies.  Van Dyck painted flattering portraits of the King.  He even painted a gorgeous photo of Queen Henrietta Maria.  Other members of the court hired Van Dyck to paint their portraits.  The people would complain about chronic flattery.  However, despite the complaints, he would change British portrait painting forever.

After this exploration of Van Dyck, Januszczak explores the English Civil War.  Out of nowhere, another portrait artist would appear during the English Civil War:  William Dobson.  Fate dropped him into history during the English Civil War.  He would record these difficult times and would provide a face to the English Civil War.  What does Januszczak learn about Dobson and the English Civil War?  Will the Civil War cause England to go back during the Baroque period?  Tune into the rest of this episode to find out more!

This was a fantastic episode, George IV was a great royal art collector, however, it was surprising to discover Charles I was also a great art collector.  Again, this would be a good series to show in an art class.