Final answer:
The Baroque period could be represented as an opulent gilded frame, which symbolizes the era's ornate and dramatic artistic styles, and its focus on grandeur and emotional intensity within Church-sanctioned art.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Medieval period is often symbolically referred to as "dirt" due to the perceived darkness and regression after the fall of the Roman Empire. On the other hand, the Renaissance period is likened to "cake" representing a time of rebirth, invention, and exploration.
To complete the analogy, the Baroque period can be characterized as an opulent gilded frame, reflecting the era's ostentation, drama, and deep contrast between light and shadow in art and architecture. During the Baroque period, society witnessed the rise of new powers, the consolidation of nation-states, and continued exploration.
In the arts, it was a time when the Catholic Church, particularly in Rome, reacted to the Protestant Reformation by promoting art that conveyed religious messages with emotional intensity and grandeur. This period is marked by the use of dramatic effects, the interplay of shadow and light, and rich colors to achieve a sense of awe and splendor.