Take this Baroque Art Quiz! Difficult Trivia | Art

Answer: Victory by Michelangelo

Caravaggio's real name was Michelangelo Merisi. He constantly attempted to prove the superiority of his art to the his namesake, by quoting poses and gestures. Another famous example is Christ in Caravaggio's "Calling of St. Matthew." His pointing finger is a reference to "God Creating Adam" from the Sistine Chapel Ceiling.

Answer: Palazzo Farnese

The Carracci's style of art was a reaction to the over exaggerated anatomy and twisting poses of Mannerist art. The two brothers, Annibale and Agostino, along with their older cousin, Ludovico, opened an art academy in Bologna. Their focus on study of anatomy, their beautiful, slightly idealized forms, and return to classicism would have a profound and more lasting effect than Caravaggio's bold chiaroscuro and intensely realistic figures.

The most famous of the Carracci's work are the frescoes in the Palazzo Farnese, which, very unfortunately, few people can now see today.

Answer: Flaw in the marble in the first not visible until nearly finished

Though Bernini's skill with marble was truly amazing, he was also a gifted architect, painter, and draughtsman. His busts of the Cardinal both examples of a speaking likeness. When standing next to either of these great works, one almost feels as if the sculpture is alive and the Cardinal is about to open his mouth and speak!

Answer: Frans Snyders

Two such examples of Rubens and Synders collaborations are "Philomenes Recognized by the Old Woman" (c.1610) and "Diana Returning from the Chase" (1616-1617). And in all of my classes on Baroque art, professors always cited the famous "Prometheus Bound" and "Daniel in the Lions' Den" as collarborations as well.

Answer: Jan Steen

While Vermeer is popular these days, he was struggling during his lifetime to support his family. Steen, however, was a prolific artist whose images of dissolute households always contained moralizing messages and were widely appreciated. His self-portraits were often quite amusing as he depicted himself as a drunkard, a great contrast to the usual self-portrait of the artist as a gentleman.

Answer: Susanna and the Elders

This breathtaking painting is one of the most realistic female nudes ever depicted in the 17th century. Susanna is seen as a strong figure who does not hide her body, but turns away from the old men in a dramatic pose. A 1997 movie was based on the life of Artemisia.

Unfortunately, the film twisted the truth and portrayed the artist as a lovesick girl who had an affair with Agostino Tassi. Artemisia was, in fact, raped by Tassi and charges were only brought against him after he stole property from her father.

He was found guilty, but never actually punished.

Answer: It depicts a nude female

The Spanish were quite religious and nudity in art was completely frowned upon. There are only a couple of other works from the time that depict nude females. Velazquez's gorgeous painting is also interesting in that the image shown in the mirror is not quite accurate.

A recreation done by a modern artist demonstrated that the mirror would actually be reflecting a slightly less decorous part of her anatomy.

Answer: Camera Obscura

Vermeer's critics often accuse him of having to rely completely on the camera obscura to create his paintings. They imagine him simply copying the image projected onto the canvas. This is, however, rather unfair. The image from the camera obscura would not only be upside down and reversed, but fuzzy.

It would still take considerable skill to create a painting from the projected image.

Answer: The Martyrdom of St. Erasmus

Nicolas Poussin, though French by birth, spent nearly all his life in Rome. He was invited to return to France by Cardinal Richelieu, which he did for a brief period. But his style of painting was more popular with Italian patrons and he soon returned. His classicizing style would later be an inspiration to Jacques Louis-David.

Answer: The Beheading of St. John the Baptist

"The Beheading of St. John the Baptist" was painted for the Cathedral in Malta in 1608 after Caravaggio had fled Rome. His signature is written in the blood flowing from the neck of the Baptist.