Art History Timeline / Baroque Art
Baroque Art for Kids: Art History, Artists and an Easy Art Activity
Baroque art is full of drama. Painters used strong light and deep shadows, like a spotlight on a stage. Dutch painters also loved quiet everyday scenes of people at home.
For teachers
Baroque art uses movement, strong contrasts of light and dark (often called chiaroscuro or tenebrism) and emotional storytelling. In the Dutch Republic, a market of middle-class buyers led to portraits, landscapes, still lifes and everyday genre scenes. Several women built successful careers in this period.
What to look for
Pull up an artwork from this time and go on a looking hunt. Here is what to spot.
- Strong light against dark backgrounds
- Rich, deep colours
- Everyday scenes at home
- Faces full of expression
Meet the artists
Artemisia Gentileschi
1593 to 1654 or later
In 1616 she became the first woman member of the art academy in Florence.
Rembrandt van Rijn
1606 to 1669
He made many self-portraits, almost like a diary of his life.
Judith Leyster
1609 to 1660
She was one of the first women in the painters' guild of Haarlem.
Johannes Vermeer
1632 to 1675
Only about 35 of his paintings are known today.
Artworks to look at closely
Click any artwork to zoom in on The Met website. Big screen, slow looking, lots of talking.
Self-PortraitRembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn), 1660The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Open AccessSee it at The Met
Young Woman with a Water PitcherJohannes Vermeer, ca. 1662The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Open AccessSee it at The Met
Esther before AhasuerusArtemisia Gentileschi, 1620sThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, Open AccessSee it at The MetTry it
An easy art activity you can do with paper and whatever drawing tools you have.
Shine a flashlight on a simple object, like a cup or an apple, in a darkened room. Draw it on grey or black paper with white chalk for the bright parts and charcoal for the deep shadows.
Ms Artastic lessons
There is no Ms Artastic lesson for this part of the timeline yet. In the meantime, the Free Art Lesson Library has lessons you can teach this week.
Open the Free Art Lesson LibraryBooks for your art shelf
- Rembrandt (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists) by Mike Venezia
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Questions teachers and parents ask
What is Baroque art?
Baroque art is full of drama. Painters used strong light and deep shadows, like a spotlight on a stage. Dutch painters also loved quiet everyday scenes of people at home.
What time period is Baroque art from?
Time period: 1600 to 1750. Where: Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Flanders.
Who are some famous artists of Baroque art?
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593 to 1654 or later), Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 to 1669), Judith Leyster (1609 to 1660) and Johannes Vermeer (1632 to 1675).
What is an easy art project for kids about Baroque art?
Shine a flashlight on a simple object, like a cup or an apple, in a darkened room. Draw it on grey or black paper with white chalk for the bright parts and charcoal for the deep shadows.
The Artastic Collective art curriculum
Full art lessons, videos and units for the whole year, ready when you are. Monthly, yearly and VIP plans.
More famous-artist video lessons
Press play and paint along with me. Each video lesson comes with a printable lesson plan and a QR code, so it is ready for the classroom or the kitchen table.
