MODULE 6: 18th c. art in europe: Rococo, Chapter 26

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Okay, time for an aesthetic dessert, let’s put some cherries on top, and add some sprinkles, oh by the way, how about some chocolate syrup. Is that enough, it’s not enough for a Rococo flavored Art? Rococo derives from the French term rocaille meaning to apply small rocks or shells to an object or “rock-work,” and characterized by excessive decoration, pastel colors, arabesque forms, lightness, delicacy, elaborate ornamentation and dainty figures.

The European art of the 18th century identified with the reign of King Louis XV of France. Rococo, was most exemplified with the architectural style of the period, including arabesques, shells, elaborate curves, and asymmetry. In painting, the style is most identified with Boucher’s boudoir scenes of plump, pink nudes, Fragonard’s scenes of coy assignations in leafy glades and curtained alcoves and Watteau’s delicate, color-drenched images of aristocratic idylls.

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SLIDE:
Neumann “Imperial Hall” (1744) Pl. 26-3

The architectural excesses of Rococo style reflected the visual indulgence that an energetic aristocracy could support. The wealth of the European upper classes was burgeoning. Supported by colonization of much of the world, the European aristocracy surrounded themselves with the ‘best’ of creative skill, in spite (or perhaps, because of it) the overindulgence.

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SLIDE:
Tiepolo “The Marriage of the Emperor Frederick…” (1752) Pl. 26-4

In Tiepolo’s painting, “The Marriage of the Emperor Frederick and Beatrice of Burgundy,” he creates a kind of theatrical diorama, with painted and stucco fabric as if stage curtains drawn aside to present a hyper-romanticized version of aristocracy at play.

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SLIDE:
Boucher “Diana Resting after Her Bath” (1742) Pl. 26-11

Boucher’s painting of the Goddess Diana is an example par excellence of the contradictory moralizing and popular soft-porn of Rococo Paris, who most personified the saccharine sentiments, fragile foliage and pastel pulchritude.

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SLIDE:
Fragonard “The Meeting” (1773) Pl. 26-13

Fragonard was a talented artist from his childhood. Winning the prestigious Prix de Rome scholarship, he quickly moved up the professional ranks. Unfortunately for him, he was the last significant Rococo artist. The Rococo style gave way to social forces of change, revolution and Neo-Classicism in art. He died in poverty and out of style.

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