The word “Baroque,” typically conjures notions of European masters creating theatrical displays celebrating the absolute monarchs and religious leaders of Europe. However, the political, cultural, and religious sentiments that formed on the European continent traveled well beyond its shores on the ships of merchants, missionaries, and colonists. In this blog we will examine Baroque art and architecture in its global context, considering how artistic styles and practices spread to and from the “four corners of the world.” Particular attention will be paid to Rome as the diplomatic center of this global exchange through the study of early modern materials at Emory’s Rose Library, Michael C. Carlos Museum, and Pitts Theology Library.
Simultaneously, we will consider how ideas and information spread from the ivory towers of academia to the public in the twenty-first century through exemplary museum exhibitions and digital projects that seek to engage a broad audience. Each week students will draw connections between the history of baroque art and advances in the public humanities today through weekly blog posts and written assignments.