8 rococo period

7/29/2019 8 Rococo Period

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Developing

a visual

LangaugeRococo

Period1715-1780

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RococoThe term rococo comes from the French rocaille, "rock-work".

Based in France, Rococo was an art style of 18th-century painting

and decoration characterized by lightness, delicacy, and elaborate

ornamentation.

It portraits opulence, grace, playfulness, and lightness in contrast to

the heavier themes and darker colors of the earlier Baroque period.

Most often used in interior design, painting, architecture, and

sculpture.

The style appealed to the senses rather than intellect, stressing

beauty over depth.

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The Rococo style is considered to be the end of the Baroque period.

Rococo developed first in the decorative arts and interior design.

Art History

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Louis XIV's desire to glorify his dignity and the magnificence of France had been

well served by the monumental and formal qualities of most seventeenth-centuryFrench art.

With the death of Louis XIV and rise of the middle class, the high society in Paris

became the pinnacle of fashion.

Rococo was manifested out of this new era of thought where society abandoned

the formality of the earlier years and began pursuing personal amusement and

happiness.

This attitude was continued with the following reign of Louis XV in 18th century.

Louis XV's succession brought a change in the court artists and general artistic

fashion.

By the end of the old king's reign, rich Baroque designs were giving way to

lighter elements with more curves and natural patterns.

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Rococo in differentartistic modes

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Rococo style took pleasure in asymmetry, this

practice of leaving elements unbalanced for effect is

called contraste.

Furniture was lighthearted, physically and visually.

Symbol of status.Metalwork, porcelain figures, frills and especially

furniture rose to new pre-eminence.

Mahogany was widely used in furniture

construction due to its strength,[absence of the

stretcher]

Use of mirrors hung above mantels became ever

more popular.Carved wood panels, called boiserie and inlaidwood designs on furniture.

Furniture and

decorative objects

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In a full-blown Rococo design, like the Table d'appartement(1730), by German

designer J. A. Meissonnier, working in Paris . Apron, legs, stretcher have all

been integrated into a flow of opposed c-scrolls and "rocaille." The knot of the

stretcher shows the asymmetrical "contraste" that was a Rococo innovation.

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Interior

Architecture The architect uses some classical elements - round arches, cornices, pilasters

- and the classical principle of symmetry.

Typical elements were arabesques, S shapes, C shapes, reverse C shapes andnatural plant forms.

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Silver or gold gilt showed to advantage against white or pastel backgrounds

on walls.

Mirrors were used to break up the surface and reflect the gilt and the

glittering crystal chandeliers.

Forms are expressed with abstractornament using flaming, leafy orshell-like textures in asymmetricalsweeps and flourishes and brokencurves.

Walls, ceiling, furniture, and works ofmetal and porcelain present a unifiedensemble.

The Rococo palette is softer and palerthan the rich primary colors and darktonalities favored in Baroque tastes.

Silver or gold gilt showed toadvantage against white or pastel

backgrounds on walls.

Mirrors were used to break up thesurface and reflect the gilt and theglittering crystal chandeliers.

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Though Rococo originated in thepurely decorative arts, the styleshowed clearly in painting.

Jean-Antoine Watteau (16841721)considered as the first great Rococo

painter. Rococo painters used delicate colors

and curving forms, decorating theircanvases with myths of love.

Portraiture was also popular amongRococo painters.

Landscapes were pastoral and oftendepicted the leisurely outings ofaristocratic couples.

Painting

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Pilgrimage to Cythera by Jean-Antoine Watteau

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tienne-Maurice Falconet (17161791) is widely considered one of thebest representatives of FrenchRococo.

The style was best expressed throughdelicate porcelain sculpture ratherthan imposing marble statues.

The themes of love and gaiety were

reflected in sculpture, as wereelements of nature, curving lines andasymmetry.

Sculpture

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Rococoinspired

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Foot wear

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Hair styles

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That is Rococo

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8 rococo period

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