| Rococo - History | | | | as the first Rococo painter. He greatly influenced |
| Rococo (or Roccoco) Western Art style refers to | | | | the later painters like Francois Boucher (1703-70), |
| a French Fine Art Movement, observed at peak | | | | Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806), and |
| during the eighteenth century, 1730s to be | | | | Élisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun |
| precise, during the reign of King Louis XV. The | | | | (1755-1842 - especially in her portraits of Marie |
| term 'Rococo' was derived from the French word | | | | Antoinette). Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) |
| 'rocaille' (pebble) and Italian term 'Barocco | | | | added uniqueness to the style through delicate |
| (Baroque).' Right from the ornamental objects of | | | | and sensitive intricacies. Other Rococo artists |
| interior decoration such as furniture, to | | | | include Jean-Baptiste van Loo (1684-1745), his two |
| architecture, paintings, and sculpture, this novel | | | | sons Louis-Michel van Loo (1707-71) & |
| French style touched all. Considered as a high | | | | Charles-Amédée-Philippe van Loo |
| fashion style, Rococo had some popular forms. In | | | | (1719-95), & his younger brother |
| fact, Rococo can be labeled as the climax and the | | | | Charles-André van Loo (1705-65); Nicolas |
| fall of Baroque Art. | | | | Lancret (1690-1743); Jean-Baptiste-Siméon |
| The Details | | | | Chardin (1699-1779); and Jean-Baptiste Greuze |
| In this Western Art style, grotesques were | | | | (1725-1805). |
| converted into lines, curves, and bands, all the | | | | The Spread |
| while flirting safely with imaginary, fantasy, and | | | | Not only France, Rococo gained popularity in |
| game playing. Rococo was the dominant choice of | | | | Germany, Bohemia, and Austria too. The German |
| the then modern and aristocrat society, which | | | | version of this French art style was introduced in |
| focused more on the unreflective and indulgent | | | | churches and palaces in the southern part of the |
| living style, rather than morality, piety, discipline, | | | | country, while Frederician Rococo was admired in |
| and heroism. Graceful & lighthearted | | | | the Kingdom of Prussia. In Italy, Giovanni Battista |
| romance, mythology, routine life, history, and | | | | Tiepolo (1696-1770) was the frontrunner of this |
| religion were the key themes. Fanciful figures, a | | | | art movement. In England, Rococo was never |
| smart use of line, delicate curves, and pastel | | | | adopted as an architectural style however; it |
| colors were the other evident key characteristics | | | | significantly influenced Fine Arts zones, such as |
| of this Western Art style. Focused on subjects, | | | | porcelain, silverwork, silk, and even some English |
| the art works were light in color, effects, and | | | | furniture. |
| emotion. Rococo's special attention to fine details | | | | The End |
| in the purview of feminine taste made it a | | | | Starting 1760s Rococo started to decline, as the |
| preferred choice for interior decoration. This style | | | | critics condemned it as frivolous, tasteless, |
| was also used in furniture, tapestry design, and | | | | colorless art, and the sign of a corrupt society. |
| portraiture. | | | | Neo-Classicism eventually replaced this rich |
| Artists | | | | Western Art style, in 1785. 1820-70 witnessed |
| Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) is considered | | | | the revival and another fall of Rococo. |