Art Lovers discussion

Rococo was an art movement of the 18th century that was centered in France, but spread throughout Europe. It is characterized by ornamental, elegant design and generally more prestige for the decorative arts. It was a style that flourished from around 1715 through the 1780s, and was dominated by aristocratic patronage. Rococo also coincides with the reign of Louis XV, and its style departs from the grandiosity of Versailles as developed under Louis XIV.

Rococo design embraced elaborate, organic patterns, gilding, decorative painting, and a palette of light, pastel colors. In furniture, we see an advance of elegant cabinetmaking and an emphasis on complex curved forms, inlay, exotic woods, and marble. Rococo chair-making demonstrates increases in the sophistication of their upholstery.

In terms of content, Rococo artists deemphasized the heavy seriousness of religious and political themes from the Baroque era and embraced secular subject matter including romantic love, sensuality, and a refined, parklike view of nature. In painting and the graphic arts there was an emphasis on spontaneous, autographic drawing, looser brushwork, and pastel colors.




Germain Boffrand, Salon de la Princesse, Hôtel de Soubise, Paris, c. 1740



Jean–Baptiste–Claude Sené, Armchair, 1787



Martin Carlin, Small Desk, c. 1775



Antoine Watteau, Mezzetin, 1720



François Boucher, Portrait of Madame Pompadour, 1756

The feminine look of the Rococo style suggest that the age was dominated by the taste and initiative of women. Women held some of the highest positions throughout Europe, and female influence was abundant. In the early 18th century Paris was the social capital and the Rococo salon was the center of the Parisian society. Society hostesses where ambitious and wealthy and their taste in art and decor was a testiment of that.
The style is characterized by dainty curved forms, delicate figures, pastel colors, and subject matters that were lighthearted, romantic, and whimsical. Pictorial themes where often inspired by classical love stories that captivated the audience with youth and flirtation. Full figured women, plush fabrics, rose gardens, cupids, and sculptured fountains reflect evidence of privilege and wealth.

https://www.quora.com/What-were-the-c...



Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Swing, 1767



Thomas Gainsborough, Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 1785-7

One of the interesting sub-styles of the Rococo is the European attempts to emulate Asian style in porcelain, furniture, and even architecture. This style is called Chinoiserie.



Francois Boucher, Chinese Garden, 1742

For more information about Rococo here are some good websites
https://artsandculture.google.com/ent...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rococo
https://www.britannica.com/art/Rococo

I can honestly say that Rococo is my least favorite art style. So much of it, like the Fragonard below, is way too fluffily ruffley for my taste.

Ruth wrote: "I can honestly say that Rococo is my least favorite art style. So much of it, like the Fragonard below, is way too fluffily ruffley for my taste."

I can say it's one of my lesser favorites, also. And because of the same reason, too.

Heather wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I can honestly say that Rococo is my least favorite art style. So much of it, like the Fragonard below, is way too fluffily ruffley for my taste."

I can say it's one of my lesser favo..."

It's probably one of my favourite art styles but that might be because of the period in which it's from.

Art History/18th Century. Spilling over into the beginning of the 18th century were the last remnants of Baroque art. Baroque interior design, in particular, is distinctly ornate and rich in ceiling decor. Following Baroque art, a similar movement, called Rococo, developed. Initially, it thrived in interior design as Baroque had previously done, but in comparison to interior design done in the Baroque style, the Rococo style could be described as softer and more refined. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Art_His...

I guess I have misunderstood all these years. Of course, besides this group, it has been years since I’ve had anything to do with studying art.
But I always thought Of Rococo as Baroque gone crazy. As in the Baroque style but much more gold and fluff, curly q’s, etc. So really it is the other way around?

I think I'd call Mannerism Baroque gone crazy.

Really? Then I think I was misinformed about Mannerism, also because I thought it was more an extension of the Renaissance movement. I don’t see a lot of Baroque in Mannerist works but maybe I’m not as familiar with the movement as I thought. I’ll have to study that a bit more because I know you are much more educated, informed and smarter than I am!