Following the decline of the renaissance ca. 16th century, the baroque style of art was a result of the demand for new art by the Roman Catholic Church. In order to reassert itself in wake of the protestant reform, the ecumenical council of Trent pronounced the use of art to serve the church. Baroque art varied from paintings, sculptures and architecture and was intended to be large scale works of public art. Baroque painting typically depicted key elements of Catholic dogma. The use of swirls and spirals were used to illustrate movement, and strong color schemes to dazzle and surprise the viewer. Masters of the Baroque style of art include Annibale Carracci, Carravaggio and Peter Paul Rubens.
Examples of Baroque art 
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