Paris and Versailles: The Magnificent Age of the Baroque

In this series on the age of Baroque, we explore how Martin Luther published his 95 theses in 1517. This was not only a challenge to the perceived corruption of the Catholic Church, it was an act which prompted the transformation of the religious, socio-political, and artistic landscape of Europe. One of the most dynamic styles to emerge in the wake of the Counter-Reformation, the Baroque, lasted a century and manifested differently in Italy, Spain, and France, where it produced the most extraordinary artists and architects including Caravaggio, Bernini, Velasquez, Poussin, and Borromini.

In this lecture on PARIS AND VERSAILLES, we will discover how the grandeur and theatricality of the Baroque became the favoured style of Louis XIV. We will also examine the statuary, architecture, and gardens of Versailles by creators such as La Fosse, Coysevox, and Le Brun.