Europe between 1600 and 1750 was an area of new scientific discoveries, new philosophies, new political ideologies, development of cities, time of social transformations and time of absolutism. In brief it was time of great transition, social adolescence – it was dynamic and turbulence time. Baroque as each multimedial style reflects this social, cultural and political mood. New art dimension was supported by powerful Roman Catholic Church as perfect propaganda instrument and by despotic European leaders as kings – emperors. As a consequence this style as other before was plying in theatrical rules to achieve the biggest impression. In fact were differences in style dependent from part of Europe, social patronage or function of art, but what about interiors…?

Tropme l’oeil

Illusory paint technique commonly used in baroque for great – scale ceilings pictures but also as a mural, oil and furniture. It was applied both in churches, palaces, private residential houses, in galleries, libraries, halls, and bedrooms or internal domes with mainly allegorical scenes. From great painters should to mention Pietro da Cortona, Andrea Pozzo, Baciccio and Charles Le Brun.

Stucco Work

It is kind of application used on walls or as a cartouches for trompe l’oeil in manner of three dimensional decoration. Forms to use in this period were s-shaped, organics and ovals. Common were gilding, silvering or painting stucco with sharp colours. Final effect was more similar to sculpture than basic form.

Gilding

Gilding was an application of thin layers of gold on different surfaces as plaster, wood or metal. In the case of furniture similar technique was Ormolu, as spectacular as deathly dangerous for workers using it because of poisonous fumes generated in that process.

Wall treatment and coverings

The walls were treated in different ways, with wood paneling, painting in fresco, with stucco work and plaster, covering by wallpapers, tapestries, large – scale mirrors (includes Venetian Mirrors), with enormous windows (includes French Windows) extending interiors on gardens or artistic creating landscape and with carved wooden doors. Other types of wall elements were marble pilasters, columns and fireplaces with masterpieces mantels. Wallpapers in baroque were both, imported from China with beautiful, rich colourful patterns and also rich, damasks. In both cases it gives oriental taste. Tapestries were know before, but in baroque considerable development in production was evident. The most remarkable workshops were in Italy – Agostino Melissi and Francesco Barberini, some in France and Netherlands Mirrors in baroque constituted particular facility. Firstly, they expended the interiors and intensified dynamic impression but what is more important put into the rooms theatrical, unreal and mysterious aura. It could be small or medium, handed on the wall carved and framed, covering large parts of walls of which an excellent example was Galerie des Glasses in Versailles, where mirrors were made by first royal glass manufacture founded in 1665 on the initiative of Louis XIV and Colbert, still existing today. Windows as a symbol of status were used to greate scale with transparent glass. Divided in rectangles, toped with arcs to let the light penetrate the rooms, give clearity architectural details and integrate interiors with fabulous gardens. Marble pilatsers and columns were elements which divided walls into the section for sculptures or paintings displays or to set the pace and floating impression. Chimneypieces in Baroque were carved especially from marble, decorated with gilded ornaments and frequently were parts of wall’s composition with mirrors, columns, pediments, sculptures, lights and other movable objects. A sometimes mantel includes timber or steel parts such as parts of decoration and essential for fireplaces equipments.

Floor

In fact, floor coverings were rarity but great baroque achievements were wood parquets arranged with simple geometrical patterns with multicolored timber. Sometimes stone or marble were used in parquet order. Typical woods for parquet were cherry, maple and beech and other types of hardwoods as they may be cleaned easily and are more durable.

Stairs

Other very important element of baroque interiors were stairs, because of its forms rooms could definitely change movable character. Usually stones stairs were twisted into the space, curved line put energy and permanently turbulence. Widely settled with stone or metal balustrades, carved and often topped by sculptures and lights.

Wood, woodwork and furniture

Timber as a material was very preferable and common in that period. Usually used were oak and walnut in view of flexibility, natural abilities and sustainability. It was the great material for wall paneling, later it could by incrusted by decorative layers exotic woods like mahogany or zebrawood, common gilded and painted. It was used to build cupboards, balconies, canopies, cabinets, book shelves or other steady equipment for new types of rooms like libraries, wealthy and powerful citizens or ecclesiastical interiors. Another woods elements were doors, rich carved, scientific objects like globes or measures instruments. Furniture to compare it with renaissance gained more ornaments, more curved lines and bulging shapes. They were often painted with techniques imitating marbling or graining, lavish gilded, with inlays exotics material like ivory, tortoise – shells and silver.

Lights

Both, natural and artificial light in baroque had particular meaning. As many other inventions as light stunt vastly usable as decorative elements of contemporary interiors. Heavy, large – scale’s crystal chandelier or made from bronze with glass finish were used as often as possible.

Sculpture and other objects

Indispensible elements were sculpture and also other objects to be connected with news inventions. Because movement was one the most important principles in baroque and sculptures as objects reflected human movement that this medium turn into basic interior elements of this period. Arguably the greatest Master of this time was Bernini. Mainly marble sculptures as human portraits or group of people in most cases with ecclesiastical themes were arranged like free-standing, standing in niches, as tombs and large compositions. In late baroque one more element had begun his existence. As a new device for time measure clock became a new element which was more decorative then usable but always with triple meaning of dynamism: forms of clock, movement of hands and changing of time.

To summarise, baroque as a style was so unconsciously varying that final effect of artistic creation was very often as splendid as kitsch.