The 17th century saw art move beyond the classical revivalism of the Renaissance to develop a dramatic, sensuous, confident style – the style history knows as the Baroque. Its development centred on a resurgent Rome. Within Italy its finest practitioners were the Caracci, Caravaggio and Bernini, while across Europe its influence The spirit of the Baroque, which so engaged the emotions of its audience, was expressed in music, sculpture and architecture as well as painting – all forms that would eventually be combined in the grand vision of Louis XIV’s Versailles. In common parlance the term “baroque” is often used to mean florid, but in art it means so much more – the dominant school of art during the rise of the modern nation state. In 2009 the 33 lectures of Decoding the Baroque II – a follow on from the successful Decoding the Baroque I series – will trace developments across Europe up to the time Rococo emerged. With communicative, specialised lecturers, many of them familiar from Decoding the Renaissance, this course is central to understanding the history of European art. BE PART OF DECODING THE BAROQUE II Art appreciation lectures at the Gallery are enormously popular, so book early to ensure your place. You can take advantage of significant savings by taking the full course, which enables you to gain the prestigious Gallery diploma in art appreciation if you so wish. Evening or daytime – your choice To make the lectures more accessible you can choose between Wednesday evenings and Thursday lunchtimes. Please be sure to make your selection carefully, since tickets are not transferable between the two timeslots. Wednesday evening 6–7pm Thursday lunchtime 1–2pm All lectures held in the Domain Theatre, lower level 3, Art Gallery of New South Wales
 View lecture listing & book online |  Jacques B lanchard (1600–1638) Mars and the Vestal Virgin (detail) oil on canvas 130 x 110.4cm Purchased with funds resulting from a gift by James Fairfax AO and with the support of the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales 2007. Photo © Prudence Cuming Associates |