Rococo ArtRococo Art

Shannon Kehoe, Emily Tucker, Shannon Kehoe, Emily Tucker, Kelley GallagherKelley Gallagher

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background 1715-17901715-1790 Started in France and affected mostly Germany, Started in France and affected mostly Germany,

Austria, England, and ItalyAustria, England, and Italy Caused by new ideas and optimism about Caused by new ideas and optimism about

humanityhumanity Was a reaction to French Classicism/Baroque artWas a reaction to French Classicism/Baroque art Comes from the French word “rocaille”, meaning Comes from the French word “rocaille”, meaning

small stones and shellssmall stones and shells Pastel colors Pastel colors a light-hearted mood a light-hearted mood curving forms, and fanciful figures curving forms, and fanciful figures Very sensuousVery sensuous Often defined as “naturalistic” Often defined as “naturalistic”

Characteristics of PaintingCharacteristics of Painting

Pastel colors Pastel colors a light-hearted mood a light-hearted mood curving forms, and fanciful figures curving forms, and fanciful figures Very sensuousVery sensuous

French Classicism:French Classicism:

Nicolas Pissin: Landscape with the Ashes of Phocion

Jean-Honoré Fragonard Jean-Honoré Fragonard FrenchFrench 1732–18061732–1806 Best known for his later Best known for his later

paintingspaintings fluid lines, frothy flowers fluid lines, frothy flowers

amid loose foliage amid loose foliage Ladies and their lovers Ladies and their lovers

or peasant mothers with or peasant mothers with children children

considered the considered the embodiment of the embodiment of the Rococo spiritRococo spirit

“The Swing” (1767)

Jean-Honoré FragonardJean-Honoré Fragonard

“The Stolen Kiss” (late 1780s)

Francois Boucher Francois Boucher

1703-1770 1703-1770 French painterFrench painter 1723 won the Prix 1723 won the Prix

de Rome de Rome One of his patrons One of his patrons

was Marquise de was Marquise de Pompadour (Louis Pompadour (Louis XV’s mistress)XV’s mistress)

Madame de Pompadour 1759

Portrait of Mademoiselle Bergeret (1746) by Francois Boucher Portrait of Mademoiselle Bergeret (1746) by Francois Boucher

Adélaïde Labille-Adélaïde Labille-GuiardGuiard

French (Paris, French (Paris, France) (1749-France) (1749-

1803)1803)

Created 1785Created 1785Oil On CanvasOil On Canvas

Self-Portrait with Self-Portrait with Two Pupils, Two Pupils, Mademoiselle Mademoiselle Marie Gabrielle Marie Gabrielle Capet (1761-1818) Capet (1761-1818) and Mademoiselle and Mademoiselle Carreaux de Carreaux de Rosemond (died Rosemond (died 1788)1788)

Adélaïde Labille-Adélaïde Labille-GuiardGuiard

(Continued) (Continued)

Portrait of Louise-Portrait of Louise-Elisabeth de France Elisabeth de France Duchess of Parma Duchess of Parma and Her Son and Her Son Ferdinand Ferdinand

(1786)(1786)

Rococo ArchitectureRococo Architecture

ArchitectureArchitecture

Most popular in France and the Holy Most popular in France and the Holy Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Interiors and the decorative arts Interiors and the decorative arts Curves and elaborate ornamentationCurves and elaborate ornamentation Gentler, lighter, more “whimsical” Gentler, lighter, more “whimsical”

than Baroquethan Baroque Asymmetrical decoration and pastel Asymmetrical decoration and pastel

colorscolors

Mafra National PalaceMafra National Palace

88 m long, 9.5 m wide and 13 m high

By Manuel Caetano de Sousa

floor has tiles of rose, grey and white marble

Two rows of wooden bookshelves

35,000 leather-bound volumes

Built from 1707 to 1750

Hall of Mirrors at Hall of Mirrors at AmalienburgAmalienburg

Francois CuvilliesFrancois Cuvillies pale delphinium pale delphinium

blue walls and blue walls and ceilingceiling

carved silver from carved silver from floor upfloor up

1734 to 1740 1734 to 1740

Rococo FurnitureRococo Furniture

Characteristics of Rococo Characteristics of Rococo FurnitureFurniture

Was scaled to a PERSON's size, Was scaled to a PERSON's size, rather than the room it was built for.rather than the room it was built for.

Was used as an accent to help Was used as an accent to help transform the room into a work of art transform the room into a work of art all its own.all its own.

Has curled or “hoofed”, feetHas curled or “hoofed”, feet Many designs centered on natureMany designs centered on nature

Jacques Dubois Jacques Dubois

Born 1693, Born 1693, died 1763died 1763

FrenchFrench

Writing desk 1749

•Commode, 1750

•Made from rosewood, violet wood, gilded bronze, red marble

•Gilt wood mirror (1750)

•Worth $120 to $180 THOUSAND today

Thomas Chippendale Thomas Chippendale 1718-17791718-1779 EnglishEnglish Created different Created different

pieces with different pieces with different styles, including styles, including Gothic and RococoGothic and Rococo

First to publish a First to publish a book containing his book containing his designs: designs: The The Cabinet Maker’s Cabinet Maker’s DirectorDirector

Parlor ChairParlor Chair Thomas ChippendaleThomas Chippendale ““Her” chairHer” chair No arm restsNo arm rests 17621762

The DirectorThe Director and the and the Unmakeable ChairUnmakeable Chair

• Published in 1762Published in 1762• Contains mostly Contains mostly Rococo designsRococo designs• Still used today:Still used today:

Thomas ChippendaleThomas Chippendale Furniture - Rococo C Furniture - Rococo Chairhair

• The “Unmakeable The “Unmakeable Chair”Chair”

Was a “Husband’s Was a “Husband’s Chair”Chair”

Rococo SculptureRococo Sculpture

Étienne Maurice Étienne Maurice FalconetFalconet

Paris, FranceParis, France(1716-1791)(1716-1791)

BatherBather(1757)(1757)

By Marie-Anne CollotBy Marie-Anne Collot

A sculpture of Étienne-Maurice A sculpture of Étienne-Maurice Falconet (1773)Falconet (1773)

Étienne Maurice Falconet Étienne Maurice Falconet (Continued)(Continued)

Peter the GreatPeter the Great Created 1766-Created 1766-

17781778 Made in RussiaMade in Russia Commissioned by Commissioned by

Catherine the Catherine the Great for St. Great for St. PetersburgPetersburg

Jean-Baptiste Jean-Baptiste PigallePigalle

Paris, FranceParis, France(1714-1785)(1714-1785)

Mercury Attaching His Mercury Attaching His WingsWings

(approved in 1741)(approved in 1741)

Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (Continued)Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (Continued)

Child with BirdcageChild with Birdcage(after 1750)(after 1750)