The present continuous and Baroque art

Introduction:
We use the present continuous to describe an action that is happening at the moment or that is in the process of change.

To form the present continuous:
     Be + Verb-ING

We often use the present continuous to describe actions in works of art. In this post, we will practice using the present continuous to describe actions in Baroque painting and sculpture.


Italian Baroque and the "fleeting moment"
The Baroque period in Italy began in the late 16th century.  Baroque art is very dramatic.  Artists such as  Bernini show figures in a fleeting (very quick) moment.  Imagine taking a photograph of a man running.  Your photo shows the man's legs both off the ground for a very short time.  He looks like he is flying.  The man did not stay in this position for very long.  Your photograph shows a fleeting moment - a moment that lasted for an extremely short time.  It shows the man in motion.  This is very typical of Baroque art.

A fleeting moment - The man is running.

  
Bernini

 

Gianlorenzo Bernini is one of the most famous artists from the Baroque period.  Most of his sculptures are made of marble.  Bernini was such a skillful artist that he makes the marble look soft and flexible in his works of art. 

This image is one of Bernini's most famous sculptures.  It shows Apollo and Daphne.  In this mythological story, Apollo loves Daphne and follows her, but Daphne does not want him.   She tries to escape from him by changing into a tree. 

  

      Apollo is chasing after Daphne.
      Daphne is becoming a tree.

 

                Daphne's hands are changing into leaves.         Her toenails are becoming the roots of the tree.

Here is another work of art by Bernini, his statue of David.  In this sculpture, David is fighting the giant Goliath.  We don't see Goliath, we only see David.  

Look at the sculpture from different angles.  Then describe the action in this sculpture using the present continuous.  Use the vocabulary words to help you.

   Vocabulary:
                    Sling - (n) a weapon made of a string used to throw stones
                    To spin - (v) to move in a circular motion
                    To twist - (v) to bend or turn something, changing its shape
                   

Do you know any other Baroque sculptors or painters?  Find some examples of the "fleeting moment" and practice describing the actions using the present continuous.