ART HISTORY BY HUSIN ALI BIN MOHAMMAD AFFANDI

In fine art, the term Baroque derived from the Portuguese 'barocco' meaning, 'irregular pearl or stone' describes a fairly complex idiom, originating in Rome, which flowered during the period c.1590-1720, and which embraced painting, and sculpture as well as architecture. After the idealism of the Renaissance (c.1400-1530), and the slightly 'forced' nature of Mannerism (c.1530-1600), Baroque art above all  reflected the religious tensions of the age  - notably the desire of the Catholic Church in Rome as annunciated at the Council of Trent, 1545-63 to reassert itself in the wake of the Protestant Reformation. Thus it is almost synonymous with Catholic counter Reformation art  of the period. In order to fulfill its propagandist role, Catholic-inspired Baroque art tended to be large-scale works of public art, such as monumental wall-paintings and huge frescoes for the ceilings and vaults of palaces and churches. Baroque Painting   illustrated key elements o