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Renaissance vs Baroque art: what is the difference?
Renaissance (c. 1400 – 1600) and Baroque (c. 1600 – 1750) side by side.
The Baroque grew out of the Renaissance and Mannerism, but changed the mood completely. Renaissance art seeks calm balance and ideal harmony. Baroque art seeks movement, drama and emotional impact.
Side by side
| Renaissance | Baroque | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | c. 1400–1600 | c. 1600–1750 |
| Where it began | Florence, Italy | Rome, Italy |
| Composition | Balanced, symmetrical, stable | Dynamic, diagonal, full of movement |
| Light | Even, clear light | Dramatic contrasts of light and dark |
| Emotion | Calm, restrained, idealised | Intense, theatrical, designed to move the viewer |
| Moment shown | A timeless, ordered scene | The climax of the action |
| Key artists | Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian | Caravaggio, Bernini, Rubens, Rembrandt, Velázquez |
Renaissance: key characteristics
- Linear perspective creates convincing three-dimensional space
- Careful study of anatomy and the natural world
- Revival of classical Greek and Roman forms, subjects and ideals of proportion
- Balanced, harmonious compositions, often based on geometry
- Oil painting, developed in the Low Countries, allowed rich colour and fine detail
Key artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Brueghel the Elder. Read the full Renaissance guide →
Baroque: key characteristics
- Dramatic contrasts of light and shadow (chiaroscuro and tenebrism)
- Movement, energy and diagonal compositions
- Emotional intensity designed to move the viewer
- Grand scale and theatrical effects in painting, sculpture and architecture
- Used by the Catholic Church after the Counter-Reformation, and by royal courts
Key artists: Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velázquez, Johannes Vermeer, Caravaggio, Anthony van Dyck, Francisco de Zurbarán. Read the full Baroque guide →
Frequently asked questions
What came between the Renaissance and the Baroque?
Mannerism, from about 1520 to 1600, with its elongated figures and complex poses.
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