Ever wonder which baroque paintings are actually worth seeing? I spent all last month digging into this. Grabbed every art book I could find, hit museums whenever possible, even scrolled through endless virtual galleries online. Wasn’t easy.
The Hunt Begins
Started by hunting down the usual suspects. Caravaggio’s stuff first—The Calling of Saint Matthew in Rome was intense with its creepy shadows and dramatic lighting. Felt like stepping into a crime scene! Then Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. Photos don’t do justice to how huge it is in person. Couldn’t stop staring at how each face tells its own story.
Unexpected Finds
Got obsessed with Artemisia Gentileschi after stumbling upon her Judith Slaying Holofernes. Most artists paint this scene like some dainty tea party—she shows the blood, the struggle, pure rage. So raw it’d make Game of Thrones look tame. Also, Velázquez’s Las Meninas blew my mind. What’s the painter doing in the back? Why’s the mirror reflecting someone else? Kept me awake decoding that puzzle.
Letdowns & Overhype
Visited Versailles expecting Rubens’ Medici Cycle to floor me. Felt crowded by all the angels and symbols—baroque on steroids. Left thinking: “Too much?” And those “hidden gem” lists? Total traps. Tracked down some obscure church mural in Naples. Barely visible behind dusty candles. Sometimes, “underrated” just means “forgotten for a reason.”
The Painting Disaster
Tried recreating Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro style myself. Bought the priciest oils and spent weeks practicing gradients. Disaster struck: mixed lamp black and titanium white for shadows, forgot turpentine makes paint runny. Wound up with muddy sludge that looked like a Rorschach test. Girlfriend walked in: “Did you paint a black hole?” Threw everything out.
So what’re the best baroque works? Honestly:
- Caravaggio when you want gritty reality slapping you
- Rembrandt for emotional gut punches
- Artemisia for “I-will-survive” energy
- Velázquez when you need to feel intellectually roasted
Don’t waste time chasing hype—just stand in front of the originals. Even if your own attempts end in greasy puddles.
