Summary of Baroque and Rococo Styles

Baroque and Rococo Overview

• Baroque period (late 17th century) characterized by grandeur and elaborate detail, particularly under Louis XIV in France.

• Rococo style (early 18th century) followed, marked by lightness and elegance.

Major Locations and Features

France

• Baroque Architecture:

  • Palace of the Louvre

  • Palace of Versailles

  • Church of Val-de-Grace

• Rococo Architecture:

  • Hôtel de Soubise

• Furniture:

  • Teak and decorative styles from Château de Chenonceau, including commodes and armchairs.

Austria and Germany

• Baroque and Rococo Architecture:

  • St. Florian Monastery

  • Melk Abbey

  • Basilica Vierzehnheiligen

  • Amalienburg, Munich

Notable Artists and Works

• French Baroque Painters:

  • Georges de La Tour: Joseph the Carpenter

  • Nicolas Poussin: The Abduction of the Sabine Women

  • François Boucher: Portrait of Madame de Pompadour

  • Jean-Antoine Watteau: A Pilgrimage to Cythera

  • Jean-Honoré Fragonard: The Swing

Key Characteristics of Rococo

• Originated in France, soon spread to Germany and Austria.

• Defined by curvilinear forms, natural motifs, and overall elegance.

• Reacted against the grand dynamics of the Baroque, such as those seen in Versailles.

Recommended Resources

• Sections from Gombrich’s The Story of Art covering Baroque and Rococo.

• Articles on Smarthistory regarding architecture in 18th-century Europe and an introduction to Rococo art by Zucker and Harris.