What’s the big deal with this luxurious trend? Baroque nails have sparkled back into the limelight to take over the world just as the original fashion did centuries ago. Nail artists are piling on gold scrollwork, gems, and cameos of cherubs while the rest of the world hangs onto minimalism. Let’s unlock the secrets behind this stunning manicure style.
Baroque Nails Have a Rich History
Once upon a time in the 17th century Italy, the beautiful balance of the Renaissance faded. Instead, someone decided to add a little extra gold to their artwork or flourish to their music. Additional embellishments appeared in architecture and on statues. The Baroque fashion even affected how people dressed and decorated their homes, with people turning to embossed fabrics, more precious stones, and religious themes. Specifically, the Catholic Church embraced the Baroque style because it gave them a dramatic way to tell the traditional stories in painting and sculpture. But today’s Baroque nails don’t require religious interest. Instead, they celebrate the original theme with jewels and ornate chrome designs encircling cameo portrait charms and little angels.
Baroque Nails Ideas
Baroque Garden Nails
Consider this example of elegant nail art. It’s titled “Baroque Garden” and features gilded details and roses. It’s influenced by the architecture of the time and the kinds of details you might have seen in a wealthy person’s home, like the Palace of Versailles.
Lavis Soft Gel
Baroque Details on Nails
Some say that Baroque period art is just too much. Admittedly, it’s a lot to take in, maybe because it’s designed to affect the emotions and stimulate the mind all at once. Opera music was invented in the Baroque era and Caravaggio painted his stunning light and shadow studies.
But you should know that Baroque was the first worldwide fashion, and it had a huge impact all over the globe. It started in Europe but eventually made its way to the Americas and as far east as Japan and China. What’s more, when Asian artists adapted Baroque design to their cultures, their remixes then influenced later iterations in Europe. It was the first time that architecture, sculpture, and painting were united to pass on the same message, and it was dramatic.
Here’s more Baroque nail art with stereotypical details from the period. It’s got a dark red base, golden details studded with pearls, crosses, cherub angels, and a lavishly framed portrait.
Nail Charms
A Religious Rebellion
You may have heard about the Protestant Reformation that led to the wide variety of Christian churches we have today. But did you ever hear about the Counter-Reformation? The Catholic Church worked to maintain their influence by commissioning famous artists to captivate people with Bible stories and legends of the saints. That’s why when you tour a Baroque period church in Europe, you can listen to a Bach cantata on a pipe organ while you contemplate the gilded decorations and dramatic paintings all around the interior.
The same technique happens today, just not necessarily for religious reasons. Organizations try to control the narrative by producing things that capture people’s attention. The good news is that nail art has become part of the conversation. More artists are getting credit for their contribution to fashion campaigns and films.
And even though it’s perfectly legitimate to create Baroque nails with stickers, stamps, and premade charms, there’s something to be said for hand-painted designs like this one. The artist describes it as “glass bead cat eyes with gold chrome”. It may be influenced by a 300-year-old fashion, but it fits in perfectly with today’s maximalist trends.
LDS VV CE - 02 - Vintage Vogue Cat Eye Gel Polish Collection
LAVIS Chrome Base - 0.5 oz (New)
Classic Chrome Nail Powder - 05B
Portraits
Portraits were important during the Baroque. Some of the faces that you see in the sacred or mythological stories might have been famous people who paid to have their likeness included. Others may have been the artist or their family. If you compare Baroque paintings to Renaissance art, you might notice that there’s a lot more going on action wise. The Baroque figures look like they were paused in the middle of something. Their clothing, expressions, and the lighting were all designed to add drama.
The artist who created these BIAB overlays included miniature portraits encircled by ornate gold frames. Once again, everything is hand-painted.
Gothic Baroque Nails
There’s no denying the goth influence on these Baroque nails. The coffin lid is a dead giveaway, but so is the deep red shade. Even the abundant use of religious imagery and the giant gems tie into both fashions.
Remixed Baroque
The Baroque style took blue and white porcelain from Asia and overlaid it with golden ornamentation to create something that rich people craved all the more. That’s just one example of how artists remixed styles at the time just like they do now. They took the prior century’s lace patterns and included them in their designs just like this artist has done with these Baroque nails. Did you know that coquette nails actually derive from Baroque fashion?
The Acanthus
The acanthus plant grows around the Mediterranean in Italy, the place where Baroque art began. Maybe that’s why it’s the most popular floral decoration in the style. You’ll also see lots of leaves, scrolls, and even animals represented.
The Future of Baroque Nails
Can you imagine what Baroque artists would’ve done if they had access to the fantastic selection of chrome powders and nail art supplies available today? If you plan on creating a Baroque manicure, what traditional details will you retain and what parts will you innovate?
When Baroque Went Broke
Sorry, we couldn’t resist this pun because we knew it had already crossed your mind. By the mid-1700s, changing times meant that the Baroque style was labeled as “immoral” and gradually discarded in favor of ancient classical art. You can blame it on the Age of Enlightenment when people were turning to science and reason. However, this over the top style never completely faded away. If you’re not ready to go for broke with over the top nail art, just add gold swirls and tiny rhinestones to your tips as a nod to one of the most amazing eras in fashion history.
Conclusion
Explore the maximalist trend of Baroque nail art on a minimalist budget. Shop our store for the trendiest shades and essential supplies to achieve all your nail art goals.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/summary/Baroque-art-and-architecture
https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-baroque-style