Rococo
Rococo, less commonly Roccoco, also known as Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and dramatic style of architecture, art, and decoration that combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colors, sculpted molding, and trompe-l'œil frescoes to create surprise and the illusion of motion and drama. It is often described as the final expression of the Baroque movement.
The Rococo style began in France in the 1730s as a reaction against the more formal and geometric Louis XIV style. It was known as the "style Rocaille" or "Rocaille style". It soon spread to other parts of Europe, particularly northern Italy, Austria, southern Germany, Central Europe, and Russia. It also came to influence other arts, particularly sculpture, furniture, silverware, glassware, painting, music, and theatre. Although originally a secular style primarily used for interiors of private residences, the Rococo had a spiritual aspect to it, which led to its widespread use in church interiors, particularly in Central Europe, Portugal, and South America.
Etymology
The word rococo was first used by Pierre-Maurice Quays as a humorous variation of the word rocaille. Rocaille was originally a method of decoration using pebbles, seashells, and cement, which was often used to decorate grottoes and fountains since the Renaissance. In the late 17th and early 18th century, rocaille became the term for a kind of decorative motif or ornament that appeared in the late Style Louis XIV, in the form of a seashell interlaced with acanthus leaves. In 1736, the designer and jeweler Jean Mondon published the Premier Livre de forme rocquaille et cartel, a collection of designs for ornaments of furniture and interior decoration. It was the first appearance in print of the term rocaille to designate the style. The carved or molded seashell motif was combined with palm leaves or twisting vines to decorate doorways, furniture, wall panels, and other architectural elements.
The term rococo was first used in print in 1825 to describe decoration, which was "out of style and old-fashioned". It was used in 1828 for decoration "which belonged to the style of the 18th century, overloaded with twisting ornaments". In 1829, the author Stendhal described rococo as "the rocaille style of the 18th century".
In the 19th century, the term was used to describe architecture or music, which was excessively ornamental. Since the mid-19th century, the term has been accepted by art historians. While there is still some debate about the historical significance of the style, Rococo is now often considered as a distinct period in the development of European art.
Characteristics
Rococo features exuberant decoration, with an abundance of curves, counter-curves, undulations and elements modeled on nature. The exteriors of Rococo buildings are often simple, while the interiors are entirely dominated by their ornament. The style was highly theatrical, designed to impress and awe at first sight. Floor plans of churches were often complex, featuring interlocking ovals. In palaces, grand stairways became centerpieces and offered different points of view of the decoration. The main ornaments of Rococo are: asymmetrical shells, acanthus, and other leaves, birds, bouquets of flowers, fruit, musical instruments, angels, and Chinoiserie (pagodas, dragons, monkeys, bizarre flowers and Chinese people).
The style often integrated painting, molded stucco, wood carving, and quadratura, or illusionist ceiling paintings, which were designed to give the impression that those entering the room were looking up at the sky, where cherubs and other figures were gazing down at them. Materials used included stucco, either painted or left white; combinations of different colored woods (usually oak, beech, or walnut); lacquered wood in the Japanese style; ornament of gilded bronze, and marble tops of commodes or tables. The intent was to create an impression of surprise, awe, and wonder on first view.
Differences between Baroque and Rococo
Rococo has the following characteristics, which Baroque does not:
- The partial abandonment of symmetry, everything being composed of graceful lines and curves, similar to Art Nouveau
- The huge quantity of asymmetrical curves and C-shaped volutes
- The wide use of flowers in ornamentation, an example being festoons made of flowers
- Sometimes using East Asian motifs (Chinoiserie, Japonisme)
- Warm pastel colors (whitish-yellow, cream-colored, pearl greys, very light blues)
External links
- Wikipedia article: Rococo
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