Art 17th century
The 17th century was a period of great artistic achievement in Europe, with Baroque style at its peak. The 17th century is often referred to as an age of religious art, with painting styles dominated by a prevailing mood of somberness and grandeur. This was in many ways a reflection of the political and religious turmoil of the time, with works focusing on themes such as death, judgment, faith, salvation and the Apocalypse. Yet at the same time one of the most important artistic developments was the secularization of art. With increasing wealth and cultural sophistication among all classes, artists turned to themes that would appeal to a wider public. While many paintings continued to emphasize religious ceremonies, figures or events, there was a growing trend for artists to show secular subjects, such as scenes from history and mythology. This was influenced by the changing political climate of the time—the end of the Thirty Years War in 1648 allowed painters and sculptors to make their art more realistic, while there was also a newfound interest in Classical antiquity. An important feature of Baroque art of the 17th century was its use of rich and contrasting colors, with the Baroque artists favoring a bold palette. Much of this colorfulness came from the addition of bright pigments made possible by new painting techniques and methods that allowed greater precision in the application of paint to canvas. Other new techniques in this period included the development of life-size nudes and a greater focus on realism, with artists paying close attention to details such as texture—this was known as "fine painting" or the "finer arts". There was a great deal of interest in depicting the natural world as accurately as possible. This included showing plants, animals and other objects such as fruit and flowers in a realistic manner. With this new sense of realism came a greater emphasis on the depiction of everyday life and the lives of ordinary people—the word "genre" was used to describe paintings that depicted everyday subjects. Renaissance styles were also a major influence in this period, particularly in Italy. High Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael were still active, while new generations of artists developed styles similar to their work. The Baroque style was the dominant artistic movement in Italy throughout this period, although there were other influences from Mannerism and even some examples of naturalistic painting that emerged during the mid-17th century. The church had a dominant role in the production of art throughout the 17th century and many painters were also employed by church institutions, such as monasteries or convents. In addition, artists often received financial backing from benefactors—patrons who promised to provide support for an artist during their career in return for the right to buy a painting at the end of their life.
![jan-baptist-weenix-1652-dead-partridge-hanging-from-a-nail-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-anwxgbkcz](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ANWXGBKCZ_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020040)
Jan Baptist Weenix, 1652 - Dead Partridge Hanging from a Nail - fine art print
![cornelis-vroom-1638-river-landscape-seen-through-the-trees-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a6jt8dzor](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A6JT8DZOR_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020250)
Cornelis Vroom, 1638 - River Landscape, seen through the Trees - fine art print
![jan-steen-1651-the-tooth-puller-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a4a07s931](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A4A07S931_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020441)
Jan Steen, 1651 - The Tooth-Puller - fine art print
![frans-snijders-1615-still-life-with-huntsman-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ar0llj9nw](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AR0LLJ9NW_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020493)
Frans Snijders, 1615 - Still Life with Huntsman - fine art print
![jacob-van-ruisdael-1670-winter-landscape-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a3k5zuf9z](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A3K5ZUF9Z_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020326)
Jacob van Ruisdael, 1670 - Winter Landscape - fine art print
![jacob-van-der-ulft-1671-army-advancing-among-roman-ruins-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ah438csly](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AH438CSLY_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019980)
Jacob van der Ulft, 1671 - Army Advancing among Roman Ruins - fine art print
![melchior-d-hondecoeter-1692-landscape-with-exotic-animals-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ata7iq183](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ATA7IQ183_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020396)
Melchior d' Hondecoeter, 1692 - Landscape with Exotic Animals - fine art print
![willem-van-de-velde-the-younger-1680-sunset-at-sea-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a7bao5o11](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A7BAO5O11_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020338)
Willem van de Velde the Younger, 1680 - Sunset at Sea - fine art print
![rembrandt-van-rijn-1661-two-african-men-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-anirclfnw](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ANIRCLFNW_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020380)
Rembrandt van Rijn, 1661 - Two African Men - fine art print
![jan-steen-1675-a-pig-belongs-in-the-sty-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a80yixhym](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A80YIXHYM_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020417)
Jan Steen, 1675 - ‘A Pig Belongs in the Sty’ - fine art print
![david-teniers-the-younger-1644-kitchen-interior-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-advdvv6me](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ADVDVV6ME_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020008)
David Teniers the Younger, 1644 - Kitchen Interior - fine art print
![jacob-van-loo-1647-portrait-of-a-lady-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-abhk4ofg4](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ABHK4OFG4_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020205)
Jacob van Loo, 1647 - Portrait of a Lady - fine art print
![govert-flinck-1640-portrait-of-a-man-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ah0tab7dx](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AH0TAB7DX_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020321)
Govert Flinck, 1640 - Portrait of a Man - fine art print
![caspar-netscher-1683-portrait-of-maria-timmers-1658-1753-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-axl9vrrb5](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AXL9VRRB5_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020330)
Caspar Netscher, 1683 - Portrait of Maria Timmers (1658-1753) - fine art print
![frans-hals-1625-portrait-of-jacob-olycan-1596-1638-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-axveof2kq](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AXVEOF2KQ_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020501)
Frans Hals, 1625 - Portrait of Jacob Olycan (1596-1638) - fine art print
![egbert-van-der-poel-1650-a-fish-market-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aya4fx1bj](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AYA4FX1BJ_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020121)
Egbert van der Poel, 1650 - A Fish Market - fine art print
![willem-kalf-1659-still-llife-with-a-roemer-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a0g7uh13c](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A0G7UH13C_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020291)
Willem Kalf, 1659 - Still Llife with a Roemer - fine art print
![anonymous-1650-vanitas-still-life-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-an7ifroyk](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AN7IFROYK_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020336)
Anonymous, 1650 - Vanitas Still Life - fine art print
![nicolaes-maes-1682-portrait-or-cornelis-ten-hove-1658-1694-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a4zd4jq7f](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A4ZD4JQ7F_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020502)
Nicolaes Maes, 1682 - Portrait or Cornelis ten Hove (1658-1694) - fine art print
![aert-van-der-neer-1650-river-landscape-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a8q16s39t](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A8Q16S39T_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020292)
Aert van der Neer, 1650 - River Landscape - fine art print
![cornelis-de-man-1660-hot-hand-hot-cockles-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aj68xquhh](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AJ68XQUHH_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020324)
Cornelis de Man, 1660 - Hot Hand(Hot Cockles) - fine art print
![balthasar-van-der-ast-1623-flowers-in-a-wan-li-vase-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a44tqjlkg](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A44TQJLKG_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020497)
Balthasar van der Ast, 1623 - Flowers in a Wan-Li Vase - fine art print
![nicolaes-pietersz-berchem-1657-the-calling-of-st-matthew-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aauvn4303](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AAUVN4303_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020193)
Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem, 1657 - The Calling of St Matthew - fine art print
![jacob-de-reyger-1635-portrait-of-a-man-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-azjor1vf9](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AZJOR1VF9_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019992)
Jacob de Reyger, 1635 - Portrait of a Man - fine art print
![nicolaes-pietersz-berchem-1670-allegory-of-winter-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ag1lmwxvf](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AG1LMWXVF_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020285)
Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem, 1670 - Allegory of Winter - fine art print
![aelbert-cuyp-1660-peasants-and-cattle-by-the-river-merwede-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aqvp2qhnt](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AQVP2QHNT_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019950)
Aelbert Cuyp, 1660 - Peasants and Cattle by the River Merwede - fine art print
![caspar-netscher-1670-a-boy-blowings-bubbles-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a7ofbxknm](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A7OFBXKNM_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019950)
Caspar Netscher, 1670 - A Boy Blowings Bubbles - fine art print
![joachim-wtewael-1601-mars-and-venus-surprised-by-vulcan-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a77goelzb](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A77GOELZB_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019951)
Joachim Wtewael, 1601 - Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan - fine art print
![anonymous-1600-portrait-of-a-man-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ab907bl9k](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AB907BL9K_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019957)
Anonymous, 1600 - Portrait of a Man - fine art print
![jan-van-de-cappelle-1651-ships-off-the-coast-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-abpdntb4s](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ABPDNTB4S_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019961)
Jan van de Cappelle, 1651 - Ships off the Coast - fine art print
![jan-anthonisz-van-ravesteyn-1624-portrait-of-an-officer-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aanbh5sls](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AANBH5SLS_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019970)
Jan Anthonisz van Ravesteyn, 1624 - Portrait of an Officer - fine art print
![anonymous-1617-portrait-of-a-deceased-man-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aheicag3u](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AHEICAG3U_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019973)
Anonymous, 1617 - Portrait of a Deceased Man - fine art print
![frans-snijders-1650-still-life-with-a-dead-stag-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-akwj9z2gl](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AKWJ9Z2GL_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019980)
Frans Snijders, 1650 - Still Life with a Dead Stag - fine art print
![peter-paul-rubens-1637-angelica-spied-on-by-the-hermit-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a7lp8r60h](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A7LP8R60H_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019983)
Peter Paul Rubens, 1637 - Angelica Spied On by the Hermit - fine art print
![pieter-post-1631-cavalry-engagement-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aprcafqv3](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/APRCAFQV3_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019986)
Pieter Post, 1631 - Cavalry Engagement - fine art print
![jan-van-goyen-1653-view-of-the-rhine-near-hoog-elten-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ab1rooxts](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AB1ROOXTS_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019991)
Jan van Goyen, 1653 - View of the Rhine near Hoog-Elten - fine art print
![cornelis-saftleven-1660-landscape-with-herdsmen-and-cattle-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aj4liwbc7](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AJ4LIWBC7_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019996)