Angelica Ochigue

Historical Background of Rococo Art

 The Rococo style, or Late Baroque, Style in interior design, decorative arts, painting,
architecture, and sculpture that originated in Paris in the early 18 th century.
 The word Rococo is derived from French rocaille, denoting the shell-covered rockwork
used to decorate artificial grottoes.
 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.

Ezel Hope Oted

 Rococo, less commonly Rococo or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and
theatrical style of architecture, art, and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling
curves, gilding, white and pastel colors, sculpted molding, and Trompe- oil frescoes to
create surprise and the illusion of motion and drama.
 Just as the building of Versailles is associated with Louis XIV, France’s most significant
art movement in the first half of the 18 th century is associated with his son, Louis XV.
Whereas Rococo interior decoration spread to other countries, notably Germany, the
painting style called Rococo is predominantly a French phenomenon.

Richelle Opo
Main Characteristics

 Rococo art sometimes called a "feminized" version of the Baroque style, is associated
with the aristocracy. Typically, the paintings depict aristocrats or aristocratic leisure-
time activities -- like courtship rituals, picnics in a harmonious natural environment, and
excursions to romantic places.
 The paintings feature beautiful aristocrats in gorgeous clothing. The figures are tall and
slender, elegant and graceful.
 Often the paintings depict a peaceful natural setting with feathery trees and sprays of
foliage. These are spring or summer settings without a hint of rain or any natural event
to disturb the happiness of the actors in the setting. Often statues are depicted in these
natural "parks"; the statues sometimes comment on the action in the paintings (for
example, Venus and her son Cupid may approve of the flirtations going on).

Norbe Juanna Marie

 Colors are gentle, often pastels. Sometimes pink roses appear in unnatural profusion.
 These are happy paintings usually as if the people in them hadn't a care in the world --
except perhaps not having their love requited. Although this style in art is contemporary
with satire in literature, these artistic works are very different in mood and theme.

Father of Rococo Art

The father of Rococo painting was Jean Antoine Watteau (French, 1684–1721),
who invented a new genre called fêtes galantes, which were scenes of courtship
parties.
Barbara Owen Navarro

Rococo Artworks
Antoine
Watteau (1684-1721)
Embarcation for Cythera 
1717
One of the most famous examples of Rococo art, this painting
depicts a party of aristocrats returning from the mythical island of
Cythera, a place associated with Venus. How many of the
characteristics listed above do you see in this work?

Francois
Boucher (1703-70)
Marquise de Pompadour
1756
This is a typical Rococo portrait. The aristocratic woman, Louis XV's
mistress, is elegant, beautifully dressed and coifed, and has the
necessary lap dog. (Aristocratic males have large hunting dogs,
poor people have mutts, and "ladies" have small lap dogs.) Note
the profusion of roses.