2023-02-01
Rococo was a style in architecture and fine arts that flourished during the reign of Louis XV (especially the years: 1730-1760). It was characterized by an ornamental approach to the subject, a love of asymmetry and complex forms. What should an art lover know about this trend?
The ornament characteristic of the Rococo is the rocaille. Its appearance mimics a shell, earwigs or sea flora. Its name was taken from a mixture of rocks, shells and gypsum, which was used to create picturesque effects in caves. The ornament appeared in France and later spread to other countries, including Italy, Bavaria and Austria. The official date of the appearance of the rocaille can be considered to be the publication in 1734 of ''Livre d'ornemens'' an ornamental book by Juste-Aurèle Meisonnier, a French artist, primarily a goldsmith, decorator and furniture designer.
Rococo painting departed significantly thematically from Baroque painting. Above all, themes related to parties and social events in the countryside, with characters in court costume (the so-called fête galante) or pastoral costume (the so-called fête champêtre) reigned supreme. In addition, masquerades were often depicted and portraits of women were popularly painted, particularly using pastels. The most important artists were undoubtedly the French Antoine Watteau and François Boucher, the English Joshua Reynolds and William Hogarth, and the Italian Francesco Guradi. On Polish soil, the Frenchman Jean Pierre (Jan Piotr) Norblin, author of fête galante paintings in the Watteau style, gained considerable importance.
The most typical features of Rococo architecture include the use of pastel colours, a predilection for asymmetry and splendour and the frequent use of stucco. Interior decoration seems to have developed most during the period of the trend. Walls were divided by wavy lines, mirrors were placed in many places and exotic, Chinese or Japanese motifs were placed in some places. Rooms became more intimate and subtle, compared to the previous era. Entire buildings are also becoming like this, with smaller palaces, villas and park pavilions taking the place of huge mansions.