Rococo Art

(First half of 18th Century)

INTRO

• “rococo” : an aristocratic, refined, and frivolous style– Term began to be used in the 18th century

– Had a negative connotation for a long time

• The Rococo style developed under the reign of Louis XV of France

• Rococo art reflected the new attitude towards the life of the aristocracy and high bourgeoisie (enlightenment values, pleasure, comfort, and elegance) in an era of economic prosperity.

INTRO, cont’d.

• Some consider Rococo art simply a type of Baroque art because they share so many characteristics. However, the function of each one is different:– Baroque: propaganda art to show the power and grandeur of the

Monarchy and the Church

– Rococo: art that reflects the very life of an aristocratic society, refined and hedonistic

• Mid 18th century: exhaustion from the excess of decoration and the search for the classical, which led to the development of the Neoclassical

ROCAILLE

Architecture

Exterior: Baroque structures

Interior: experimentation with new style, excessive decoration

Focus on comfort and intimacy rather than display of homeowner’s

power

- More comfort and practicality in layout

- Houses often surrounded by gardens or a natural park

- Focus on lighting

- Natural light -- use of door-windows

- Mirrors and lamps to add light

Architecture

Hôtel Matignon

(Paris)

Architecture

Hôtel Matignon (Paris)

Architecture

Wurzburg Palace (Germany): home of the bishops of Warzburg.

Architecture

Wurzburg Palace

(Germany): home of the

bishops of Warzburg.

Architecture

Church of Wurzburg Palace (Germany): home of the bishops of Warzburg.

The Bather (Falconet)

82cm

Sculpture

• Interior spaces decorated with small-scale sculptures

Menacing Cupid (Falconet)

Painting

• A fundamental part of the interior decoration of bourgeousie and aristocratic

residences

• Small paintings were preferred to large portraiture

• Paintings were lighter and brighter and had less serious themes

• Portraits in familiar attitudes and environments

• Mythological scenes of love between gods and heroes

• “fêtes galantes”: aristocratic characters, with rich silk dress, relaxing in

lush landscapes, always portraying an easy life of enjoyment of parties

and social gatherings

The Embarkation for Cythera - Watteau

The Pleasures of Dance - Watteau

Madame de

Pompadour

- Boucher

The Toilette of Venus -

Boucher

The Swing -

Fragonard