Rococo

Rococo, less commonly Roccoco (/rəˈkoʊkoʊ/ rə-KOH-koh, US also /ˌroʊkəˈkoʊ/ ROH-kə-KOH; French: [ʁɔkɔko] or [ʁokoko] ^ⓘ), also known as Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and dramatic style of architecture, art, and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, 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.

Originally known as the “style Rocaille," Rococo began in France in the 1730s as a reaction against the more formal and geometric Louis XIV 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, theatre, and literature. 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.

The word rococo was first used as a humorous variation of the word rocaille by Pierre-Maurice Quays (1777–1803). Rocaille was originally a method of decoration utilizing pebbles, seashells, and cement, which from the Renaissance had often been used to decorate grottoes and fountains. In the late 17th and early 18th century, rocaille became the term for a decorative motif that appeared in the late Louis XIV style 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 moulded 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 a distinct period in the development of European art.

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 dominated by ornamentation. The style was highly theatrical, designed to create an impression of surprise, awe, and wonder on first view. Floor plans of churches were often complex, featuring interlocking ovals. In palaces, grand stairways became centrepieces, offering different viewpoints of the decoration. The main ornaments of Rococo include 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 moulded 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, with cherubs and other figures gazing down at them. Materials used included stucco that had been either painted or left white, combinations of different coloured woods (usually oak, beech, or walnut), lacquered wood in the Japanese style, gilded bronze, and marble.

Rococo tends to have the following characteristics, which Baroque does not: