Travelling and Exoticism / Travelling artists and patrons and the exchange of artworks

In part, the essence of the Baroque period stems from artists who travelled across borders to study with a particular school or artist, work for a patron or begin a new commission.

Travelling artists and patrons shaped the artistic landscape of many cities, towns and regions of Europe through the commission of an array of works, both sacred and secular. This exchange can be observed in literature and music, but it assumes particular visibility in architecture and the fine arts. In part, the essence of the Baroque period stems from artists who travelled across borders to study with a particular school or artist, work for a patron or begin a new commission. Travelling to the Italian Peninsula, and especially to Rome, was an important experience for artists who, throughout Europe, made direct or indirect references to Italian painting. This network created an unfurling of specific subjects, techniques and artistic languages.

NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Susanna and the Old Men1607Borghese Gallery
Rome, Latium, Italy
Probably commissioned by Cardinal Borghese, the Dutch artist, Rubens, is the author of this painting (1606–08) on a biblical theme that was popular during the Counter-Reformation: the fight between truth and virtue (personified by Susanna) and lies (symbolised by the elders).
Court and Theatine Church of St. Cajetan1663–1675: construction period; 1765–1768: façadeMunich-Old town, Upper Bavaria, GermanyThis German court church is inspired by the Baroque style of northern Italy where many foreign artists worked. Agostino Barelli drew up the initial designs while Enrico Zucalli worked as the construction supervisor. François Cuvilliés the Elder re-designed the façade between 1765 and 1768. All the altarpieces of the church are by Italian masters of the Bolognese and Venetian schools.
NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Court and Theatine Church of St. Cajetan1663–1675: construction period; 1765–1768: façadeMunich-Old town, Upper Bavaria, GermanyThe interior has rich stucco decoration by Nicolò Petri (1685–88), and Wolfgang Leutner was responsible for the stucco figures.
Court and Theatine Church of St. Cajetan1663–1675: construction period; 1765–1768: façadeMunich-Old town, Upper Bavaria, GermanyThe altar paintings are by Caspar de Crayer, Carlo Cignani, George Desmareés and Joachim Sandrart; the statues of the saints Marcus and John are by Balthasar Ableithner.
Sacrifice of Abraham1715Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters
Zagreb, North-West Croatia, Croatia
Born in Croatia in 1667, Benkovich spent most of his adult life abroad in Venice and then in Bologna (1706), where he worked with Carlo Cignani and Giuseppe Maria Crespi. He painted great compositions for Würzburg castle and later worked for Prince Lothar Franz Schönborn in the Weissenstein palace gallery, Pommersfelden, in around 1715.
The Gourmet1720sDobó István Castle Museum
Eger, Észak-Magyarország / North Hungary, Hungary
Danish painter Jacob van Schuppen studied with Nicolas Largilliere. He travelled to Vienna in 1716 where, ten years later, he was instrumental in the revival of the Academy of Fine Arts. Known as a portraitist, van Schuppen's genre painting can be found in several Hungarian collections.
Portrait of Domenico Scarlattic. 1738–1739Patudos House, Alpiarça Museum
Alpiarça, Santarém, Portugal
Domenico Scarlatti (1685–1757) arrived in Portugal in around 1720 having been appointed music teacher to the children of King João V. He then became Kappelmeister of the orchestra and choir of the Patriarchal Seminar chapel where he introduced Italian Opera and the new European musical and artistic patterns in vogue at that time. Under the patronage of King João V, from 1729, he lived in Madrid as music master to the king's daughter, Maria Bárbara, who was the wife of the future King Philip VI of Spain.
Feudal Hall1759Episcopal residenceKroměříž, Moravia, Czech Republic
NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Feudal Hall1759Episcopal residence
Feudal Hall1759Episcopal residence
Feudal Hall1759Episcopal residence