Rococo
(1730-1765)
Loisse Ledres
“Rococo”
probably originated from French word
rocaille
(form of colorful and irregular rockwork used to embellish
grottoes and fountains)
coquillage
(shell motifs that accompanied the rocaille)
OR
barocco
(meaning misshapen, malformed, irregular)
Term not used during but after in 1830s,
expressed for fashion, painting, architecture, and more
Juste-Aurele Meissonnier
lead the way with his
nature based designs and published them which
spread and influenced Europe heavily.
Juste-Aurele Meissonnier
’s title page for his oeuvre
portrays the rococo style very well with its heavy
ornamentation and curvy forms
Ideal circumstances in France under the rule of King
Louis XV as the country was its most
powerful in Europe
decades of internal peace and prosperity,
arts were supported which was a legacy of
King Louis XIV’s nation state structure
international prestige attracted foreign talent
Rococo’s popularity results from rich bourgeoisie and their
“means of flattering themselves and emphasizing their own
imperialist claims, in the hope of achieving the awe and respect
of the populace supposedly enjoyed by the former regime”
= bragging contest
Context
