With the development of the press, the religious ideas of Luther, the scientific reasoning of Copernico and Galileo and the artistic styles born in Venice are spread through Europe. Faith is shaken up to the point of breaking Europe into two parts: Protestants in the north and Catholics in the South.

Mystical personalities, like St. Theresa of Avila, and new orders, like the Jesuits of St. Ignacius of Loyola, attempt a renovation of the Catholic Church while the Council of Trento makes drastic decisions to enforce othodoxy (St. Inquisition).
The power of Spain is imposed in Italy and in the Vatican substituting the Italian way of life for a more severe one. The artists' freedom diminishes and is controlled by the nobility and the Vatican substituting the Italian way of life for a more severe one. The artists' freedom diminishes and is controlled by the nobility while the church: artists create impressive works full of luxury. Yet, these are framed by the new norms of modesty and spirituality which show the grandiosity of both institutions. One more time religious themes become fashionable and characters are fully dressed.

In architecture there are few changes: the same elements which had reappeared during the Renaissance are found:

• columns,
• pillars,
• cornices,
• moldings,
• pediments...

But they are now combined with volutes and other kinds of adornments, rhythms change.

In sculpture and in painting, movement and composition make the general aspect of works more complicated.

Born in Italy, Baroque is adopted in France, in Germany,in the Netherland, and in Spain and from there in the colonies of America.

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