The Rococo Art Movement began in 1699 after the French King, Louis XIV, demanded more youthful art to be produced under his rule. It is also referred to as Late Baroque because it developed as Baroque artists moved away from symmetry to more fluid designs.The word is a derivative of the French term rocaille, which means ‘rock and shell garden’ ornamentation.
Key features of the Rococo Art Movement include :
• Curves- Rococo has a frilly style replete with serpentine curves, spirals, pastels and undulations.
• Sense of awe- A grand staircase could become a centerpiece of a room, and ceiling painting adorned with cherubs became popular.
• Stucco- A very dense material that became popular was used for decorative ceiling, made by mixing aggregate and a binder.
Rococo architecture brought significant changes to the building of edifices, placing an emphasis on privacy rather than the grand public majesty of Baroque architecture. Rococo was a lighter, more graceful, a elaborate version of Baroque, which was ornate and austere.
However, towards the end of the eighteenth century, this architectural style was less in demand. Neoclassicism emerged in opposition to Rococo, which is all about symmetrical columns, buildings, and pieces and by the nineteenth century, Rococo had fallen out of favor, though its legacy endures through more modern structures like the Woolworth Building and Grand Central Station in New York City both exemplify the lavishness that defined Rococo.
In todays time, Rococo is still a popular style, mostly due to a romanticised view of the period, the manners and the people themselves.
We hope this article has been both informative and entertaining!