During the 18th century, two new artistic styles emerged in Europe - Rococo and Neoclassicism. Rococo art reflected the tastes of the nobility and featured ornate decoration, curved lines, pastel colors, and themes of mythology and joy. Neoclassicism was inspired by classical antiquity and reflected Enlightenment ideas of order and reason. It featured symmetrical architectural designs with columns and domes, marble sculptures of mythology and history, and figures painted in an austere, statue-like style. Both styles spread across Europe, including in Spain, influencing architecture, sculpture, painting, and interior design of the time.

1. ART DURING THE
ENLIGHTENMENT

2. NEW STYLES
ROCOCO
TWO NEW
ARTISTIC STYLES
DURING THE
18th CENTURY
NEOCLASSICISM

3. ROCOCO
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What is Rococo style?
The Rococo was a popular
artistic style between the
1730s and 1760s. It reflected
the aesthetic tastes of
nobility, who wanted homes
and decorations that
represented the joy of life.
The swing, by Fragonard

4. ROCOCO
ARCHITECTURE
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Rococo interiors (inside the
building)
Irregular forms
Curves
A lot of decoration in ceilings
and walls inside the palaces.
A lot of furniture, courtains
and other luxury objects.
Seashells and floral elements.
What is it? It is a room of the Hôtel de Soubise
in Paris.
Who did it? Germain Boffrand
Which is its approximate date? 1735-1740
How is it? There is a lot of decoration in
ceilings and walls. Arquitecture and furniture
show irregular forms and a lot of curves. There
are some luxury objects on some furniture.
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What information from the past does it give us?
It reflects the aesthetic tastes of the nobility,
who wanted homes and decorations that
represented the joys of life. The nobility tried to
resist changes that would reduce their
dominance due to the ideas of Enlightenment.
What was it used for? (function) The Hôtel de
Soubise was a palace built for the Prince and
Princess de Soubise in Paris.

5. ROCOCO IN SPAIN
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What is it? It is the Gasparini Salon in the
Royal Palace in Madrid.
Who did it? Gasparini
Which is its approximate date? 1735-1740
How is it? There is a lot of decoration in
ceilings and walls. Arquitecture and
furniture show irregular forms and a lot of
curves. There are a lot of luxury objects on
some furniture.
What information from the past does it
give us? It reflects the aesthetic tastes of
the nobility, who wanted homes and
decorations that represented the joys of
life. The nobility tried to resist changes
that would reduce their dominance due to
the ideas of Enlightenment.
What was it used for? (function) Charles III
used this room for both receiving guests
and as a dressing room.

6. ROCOCO
SCULPTURE
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They were often small and
represented joyful and
mythological themes.
What is it? It is Bouchardon´s Cupid.
Who did it? Bouchardon
Which is its approximately date? 1750
How is it? It is sculpted in marble and depicts a
mythological theme: Cupid, the Roman god of love.
What information from the past does it give us? It
reflects the aesthetic tastes of the nobility, who
wanted decorations that represented the joys of life.
The nobility tried to resist changes that would
reduce their dominance due to the ideas of
Enlightenment.
What was it used for? (function) To decorate the
nobility´s palaces with the representation of the joys
of life.

7. ROCOCO
PAINTING
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They used pastel colours.
They represented mythological
themes, rural festivals and domestic
scenes.
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What is it? It is «Rinaldo and Armida»
Who did it? François Boucher
Which is its approximate date? 1734
How is it? It uses pastel colours and
represents a scene of a poem by an Italian
poet, about the Christian Rinaldo being
bewitched by the magician Armida.
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What information from the past does it give us?
It reflects the aesthetic tastes of the nobility,
who wanted decorations that represented the
joys of life. The nobility tried to resist changes
that would reduce their dominance due to the
ideas of Enlightenment.
What was it used for? (function) To decorate the
nobility´s palaces with the representation of the
joys of life.

8. NEOCLASSICISM
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What is Neoclassicism?
It was an artistic style that
was popular in Europe
between the 1760s and
1830s.
It imitated classical art and
reflected the aesthetic tastes
of Enlightenment thinkers and
the middle class.
They rejected the leisurely
lifestyle of the nobility and
Rococo´s excessive
decoration.
It reflected ideas of order and
moral correctness.
Puerta de Alcalá, by Sabatini

9. NEOCLASSICISM
ARCHITECTURE
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Buildings were well-proportioned
They used classical elements:
o Rounded arches
o Columns
o Domes
Straight lines were used.
They built balanced, simetrical and
solid buildings.
What is it? It is the Pantheon in Paris.
Who did it? Soufflot.
Which is its approximately date?
How is it? It is a building made of stone. It
uses classical features, such as classical
columns, corinthian capitals, pediments
decorated with scuptures and a dome. Lines
are straight and show a well-proportioned
building.
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What information from the past does it give us?
It reflects the aesthetic tastes of the
Enlighenment thinkers and the middle class. It
reflects the ideas of order and moral
correctness.
What was it used for? (function) First, it was
thought to be a church. During the French
Revolution, it became the mausoleum of great
Frenchmen.

10. NEOCLASSICISM
IN SPAIN
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What is it? The former Gabinete
de Ciencias Naturales, which is
now the Prado Museum in Madrid.
Who did it? Villanueva.
Which is its approximately date?
1786
How is it? It is a building made of
stone. It uses classical features,
such as classical columns, doric
capitals, pediments decorated
with scuptures and a dome. Lines
are straight and show a wellproportioned building.
What information from the past
does it give us? It reflects the
aesthetic tastes of the
Enlighenment thinkers. It reflects
the ideas of order and moral
correctness.
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What was it used for? (function) It was built for
the Gabinete de Ciencias Naturales in Spain.

11. NEOCLASSICISM
SCULPTURE
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They were made of marble
They represented mythological
themes or famous people.
What is it? It is «Eros and Psique»
Who did it? Canovas
Which is its approximately date? 1793
How is it? It is made of marble. It represents
the mythological scene of Eros and Psique.
What information from the past does it give
us? It reflects the aesthetic tastes of the
Enlighenment thinkers and the middle class. It
reflects the ideas of order and moral
correctness.
What was it used for? (function) It was a new
interpretation of the classical sculpture.

12. NEOCLASSICISM
IN SPAIN
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What is it? The Cibeles Fountain,
in the Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid.
Who did it? Ventura Rodríguez.
Which is its approximately date?
1782
How is it? It is sculpted in marble
and depicts a mythological theme:
a chariot pulled by lions driven by
Ceres, the Roman goddess of
fertility.
What information from the past
does it give us? It reflects the
aesthetic tastes of the
Enlighenment thinkers. It reflects
the ideas of order and moral
correctness.
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What was it used for? (function) It was a new
interpretation of the classical sculpture. It was
used to beautify that square of Madrid, following
the orders of Carlos III, who wanted to remodel
the city.

13. NEOCLASSICISM
PAINTING
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People are painted like statues.
The themes were frequently
mythological or historical, with
idealised images of famous people.
What is it? It is «El juramento de los
Horacios»
Who did it? Jacques-Louis David
Which is its approximately date? 1784
How is it? Figures are painted as if they were
statues. It represents the Roman greeting.
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What information from the past does it give us?
It reflects the aesthetic tastes of the
Enlighenment thinkers and the middle class. It
reflects the ideas of order and moral
correctness.
What was it used for? (function) It was a new
interpretation of the classical themes.

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Elaborated by Prof. Mª Isabel Aguña Aguerri
Social Science bilingual teacher