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-miense-molenaer-1637-the-five-senses-touch-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a01sl1vak](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A01SL1VAK_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020373)
Jan Miense Molenaer, 1637 - The Five Senses: Touch - fine art print
![adam-van-breen-1615-winter-landscape-with-skaters-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aus7b9bdp](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AUS7B9BDP_{width}x.jpg?v=1579015303)
Adam van Breen, 1615 - Winter Landscape with Skaters - fine art print
![rembrandt-van-rijn-1641-the-windmill-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a0dizt6lv](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A0DIZT6LV_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019925)
Rembrandt van Rijn, 1641 - The Windmill - fine art print
![jacob-van-ruisdael-1675-beach-view-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a0graskm6](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A0GRASKM6_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020308)
Jacob van Ruisdael, 1675 - Beach View - fine art print
![gerard-ter-borch-the-younger-1660-curiosity-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-asyk44czx](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ASYK44CZX_{width}x.jpg?v=1579017761)
Gerard ter Borch the Younger, 1660 - Curiosity - fine art print
![philips-wouwerman-1650-landscape-with-a-sign-post-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-acdbd1ebr](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ACDBD1EBR_{width}x.jpg?v=1579013335)
Philips Wouwerman, 1650 - Landscape with a Sign Post - fine art print
![willem-claesz-heda-1629-still-life-with-a-roemer-and-watch-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ayv52iavv](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AYV52IAVV_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020214)
Willem Claesz Heda, 1629 - Still Life with a Roemer and Watch - fine art print
![gerrit-dou-1665-self-portrait-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a87vbiqcc](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A87VBIQCC_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019377)
Gerrit Dou, 1665 - Self-Portrait - fine art print
![jan-miense-molenaer-1640-cheating-at-cards-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-abt4mtzpi](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ABT4MTZPI_{width}x.jpg?v=1579014337)
Jan Miense Molenaer, 1640 - Cheating at cards - fine art print
![jan-havicksz-steen-1660-family-scene-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-afcivvcps](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AFCIVVCPS_{width}x.jpg?v=1579014129)
Jan Havicksz Steen, 1660 - Family scene - fine art print
![willem-van-de-velde-ii-1680-the-cannon-shot-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a7sym1hqb](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A7SYM1HQB_{width}x.jpg?v=1579013435)
Willem van de Velde II, 1680 - The Cannon Shot - fine art print
![adriaen-van-ostade-1640-landscape-with-an-old-oak-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ar83qql5j](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AR83QQL5J_{width}x.jpg?v=1579013166)
Adriaen van Ostade, 1640 - Landscape with an old oak - fine art print
![peter-paul-rubens-1616-wolf-and-fox-hunt-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ariwc2pzz](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ARIWC2PZZ_{width}x.jpg?v=1579017785)
Peter Paul Rubens, 1616 - Wolf and Fox Hunt - fine art print
![aert-van-der-neer-1625-landscape-with-hunter-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ae6071p8z](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AE6071P8Z_{width}x.jpg?v=1579014252)
Aert van der Neer, 1625 - Landscape with Hunter - fine art print
![anton-mirou-1608-wooded-landscape-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ajx6akftm](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AJX6AKFTM_{width}x.jpg?v=1579015628)
Anton Mirou, 1608 - Wooded Landscape - fine art print
![rembrandt-van-rijn-1650-four-men-talking-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-axc075tm6](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AXC075TM6_{width}x.jpg?v=1579011986)
Rembrandt van Rijn, 1650 - Four men talking - fine art print
![dirck-verhaert-1630-river-landscape-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-afk214gag](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AFK214GAG_{width}x.jpg?v=1579015908)
Dirck Verhaert, 1630 - River Landscape - fine art print
![sir-peter-lely-1670-study-for-a-portrait-of-a-woman-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-awrlrmzx0](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AWRLRMZX0_{width}x.jpg?v=1579018990)
Sir Peter Lely, 1670 - Study for a Portrait of a Woman - fine art print
![adriaen-van-de-velde-1671-the-hut-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a28bpbbsf](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A28BPBBSF_{width}x.jpg?v=1579013533)
Adriaen van de Velde, 1671 - The Hut - fine art print
![hendrick-bloemaert-1630-old-man-with-a-hen-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a4ythbg5t](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A4YTHBG5T_{width}x.jpg?v=1579022703)
Hendrick Bloemaert, 1630 - Old Man with a Hen - fine art print
![willem-van-aelst-1658-still-life-with-fowl-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a4vrc7tsj](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A4VRC7TSJ_{width}x.jpg?v=1579014655)
Willem van Aelst, 1658 - Still Life with Fowl - fine art print
![adriaen-van-ostade-1659-the-merry-drinkers-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ak6u9hg8g](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AK6U9HG8G_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020414)
Adriaen van Ostade, 1659 - The Merry Drinkers - fine art print
![adriaen-coorte-1696-a-bowl-of-strawberries-on-a-stone-plinth-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ay3hxljih](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AY3HXLJIH_{width}x.jpg?v=1579013203)
Adriaen Coorte, 1696 - A Bowl of Strawberries on a Stone Plinth - fine art print
![rembrandt-van-rijn-1630-selfportrait-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aaqcpmhs2](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AAQCPMHS2_{width}x.jpg?v=1579022899)
Rembrandt van Rijn, 1630 - Selfportrait - fine art print
![jan-lievens-1627-apostle-paul-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-adee4tkeo](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ADEE4TKEO_{width}x.jpg?v=1579021927)
Jan Lievens, 1627 - Apostle Paul - fine art print
![otto-van-veen-1600-a-nocturnal-banquet-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aevbo2tgy](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AEVBO2TGY_{width}x.jpg?v=1579014237)
Otto van Veen, 1600 - A Nocturnal Banquet - fine art print
![jan-davidsz-de-heem-1660-garland-of-fruit-and-flowers-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-aqa7nc5sj](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AQA7NC5SJ_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020076)
Jan Davidsz de Heem, 1660 - Garland of Fruit and Flowers - fine art print
![anthonie-van-borssom-1640-moonlit-landscape-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a58wka2iq](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A58WKA2IQ_{width}x.jpg?v=1579014289)
Anthonie van Borssom, 1640 - Moonlit Landscape - fine art print
![jan-steen-1670-as-the-old-sing-so-pipe-the-young-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-as8bceeyd](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AS8BCEEYD_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020418)
Jan Steen, 1670 - As the Old Sing, So Pipe the Young - fine art print
![johannes-vermeer-1670-allegory-of-the-catholic-faith-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a7lk47bc9](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A7LK47BC9_{width}x.jpg?v=1579017779)
Johannes Vermeer, 1670 - Allegory of the Catholic Faith - fine art print
![denys-calvaert-1619-saint-john-the-baptist-in-the-wilderness-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-awwbvpgni](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AWWBVPGNI_{width}x.jpg?v=1579017080)
Denys Calvaert, 1619 - Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness - fine art print
![barent-fabritius-1661-prodigal-son-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-avg4zpk53](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AVG4ZPK53_{width}x.jpg?v=1579015015)
Barent Fabritius, 1661 - Prodigal Son - fine art print
![melchior-d-hondecoeter-1686-birds-in-a-park-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-ao4p9ty30](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/AO4P9TY30_{width}x.jpg?v=1579014433)
Melchior d' Hondecoeter, 1686 - Birds in a Park - fine art print
![pieter-de-hooch-1657-a-woman-and-two-men-in-an-arbor-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-alf4s1qi5](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/ALF4S1QI5_{width}x.jpg?v=1579019752)
Pieter de Hooch, 1657 - A Woman and Two Men in an Arbor - fine art print
![jan-vermeer-1648-landscape-on-the-edge-of-the-dunes-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a6as071da](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A6AS071DA_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020207)
Jan Vermeer, 1648 - Landscape on the Edge of the Dunes - fine art print
![jacob-van-ruisdael-1646-landscape-with-a-windmill-art-print-fine-art-reproduction-wall-art-id-a4f4mgkk7](http://www.artprinta.com/cdn/shop/products/A4F4MGKK7_{width}x.jpg?v=1579020807)