HID Module 14 - Rococo

Rococo Art and Architecture

Originated in Paris, France, in the mid-1700s.

Delicate and substantial ornamentation

Characteristic of Rococo art and architecture.

Régence

Transitional period in French history between the reigns of Louis XIV and XV.

Rise of the middle class

Rococo art expanded its patrons beyond royalty and aristocrats.

Response to the Age of Reason

Rococo emerged as a reaction to the Enlightenment and the shift towards democracy.

Louis XV Style (Rococo)

Rococo identified with the style of Louis XV; reaction AGAINST the grandeur and symmetry of Baroque architecture.

Playful and light

Rococo art and architecture were more delicate and florid compared to Baroque.

Curving lines and vegetal forms

Rococo designs featured curving lines, vines, leaves, and flowers.

Intimate spaces

Rococo interiors were designed for salons, boudoirs, and private libraries.

Carving, gilding, marquetry

Decorative techniques used in Rococo interior design.

Origin of Rococo Interior Design

Evolved from the French "rocaille" (artificial rockeries) and "coquille" (cockleshell).

Venetian Rococo

Italian version of Rococo characterized by exuberance and painted commodes; Example: Sala degli specchi (Venice).

Gothic Revival influence

Rococo in England had a close association with Gothic Revival architecture; Style considered the "French taste."

Most outrageous and magnificent Rococo architecture

Germany had the most outrageous and elaborate Rococo architecture in Europe; Example: Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Aristocratic idealism

Rococo painting celebrated grandiose ideals and the aristocratic lifestyle.

Fête galante

Rococo paintings depicted outdoor parties with figures in elaborate costumes.

Jean-Antoine Watteau

Works: Embarkation for Cythera; Pilgrimage to Cythera

François Boucher

Works: The Triumph of Venus, Odalisque

Jean-Honoré Fragonard

Works: The Swing, The Progress of Love Series

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

Works: Frescos at the Residenz, Würzburg, Germany; Frescos at the Palacio Real, Madrid

Canaletto

Works: Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice

William Hogarth

Works: Marriage A-la-mode 2: The Tete A Tete

Thomas Gainsborough

Works: The Blue Boy, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews

Informal and relaxed sculpture

Rococo sculptures were lighter and more playful than Baroque.

Madame de Pompadour

Prominent patron of Rococo sculptures.

Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory

Known for its exquisite Rococo porcelain figures.

Clodion

Known for his charming figures of nymphs, cherubs, and gods.

Jean-Baptiste Pigalle

Combined Rococo elements with classical conventions.

Étienne Maurice Falconet

Works: Erotic sculptures

Antonio Corradini

Works: Sculptures of veiled women