Rococo, an 18th-century artistic movement originating in France, evolved as a reaction to the solemn baroque style following Louis XIV's reign, focusing on lightness, whimsy, and ornate design in arts such as painting, sculpture, and interior design. Characterized by playful themes, asymmetrical forms, and a palette of pastel colors, rococo interiors featured elaborate details and handcrafted ornamentation that transformed living spaces into luxurious havens. As a style influential in fashion, decorative arts, and architecture, rococo remains celebrated for its elegance and charm.

2. RococoArt
Name: also known as LATE BAROQUE
Origin: Paris, France
Developed in: 18th century
Date: 1700-1750
Derived from: French word“ROCAILLE” meaning
STONE or shell-covered rock.

3. Rococo is an artistic movement and style which has
affected manyaspects of art:
Sculpture
Painting
Architecture
Interior
Furniture
Fashion
Ceramics
Jewellery
Literature
Music
Theater

4. • The history of the Rococo style dates back to roughly the 1730s.
• French political life had changed since the death of the Louis XIV in 1715.
• Louis was a powerful monarch who kept the nobles and aristocrats
constantly occupied in courtly life and displayed his regal power through
dark, dramatic, and ornate palaces like Versailles.
• His son, Louis XV, was only five when he inherited the throne, so France
was ruled by a regent and the nobles were able to focus more on their
private affairs.
• This was the world that the Rococo was born into.
• French aristocrats, freed from courtly solemnity, spent more time in their
private estates, hosting lavish parties and generally enjoying life.
• Since they were entertaining guests frequently, interior design was a top
priority, but this wasn't the regal, Baroque design of Versailles.
• What emerged was something just as opulent and lavish, but with none of
the solemnity.

5. Characteristics:
jocular, florid and graceful approach to Baroque
Vertical lines wereavoided
Angles were softened
style was ornate, used light colors, asymmetrical
designs, curves and gold.
playful and wittythemes.
produced flowing, giddy, visually spectacular carving
elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures,
ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing
architecture, reliefs, andwall paintings.

6. Features
Natural motifs
Elaborated carved forms
Asymmetry
S and c scrolls

7. • In the Rococo style, walls, ceilings, and moldings
were decorated with delicate interlacings of
curves and countercurves based on the
fundamental shapes of the “C” and the “S,” as
well as with shell forms and other natural
shapes.
• Asymmetrical design was the rule. Light pastels,
ivory white, and gold were the predominant
colours, and
• Rococo decorators frequently used mirrors to
enhance the sense of open space.

8. Sculpture
Rococo was widely adapted
Expressed through delicate porcelain sculpture
Themes of love andgaiety
Elements of nature, curving lines and asymmetry.

9. Edme Bouchardon
1750

10. Pair of lovers
Franz Anton
1760
Etienne Maurice Falconet
amour menaçant, louvre
1750

12. Painting
Decorative art style was clearly shown
Delicate colors and curving forms
Decorating canvas with cherubs and myths of love
Portraits were also popular
Some showed a sort of naughtiness or impurity in the
behavior of their subjects
Pastoral landscapes

13. • French Rococo painting in general was
characterized by
• easygoing, lighthearted treatments of
mythological and courtship themes,
• rich and delicate brushwork
• a relatively light tonal key, and sensuous
colouring.
• Rococo sculpture was notable for its
intimate scale, its naturalism, and its varied
surface effects.

14. Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684–1721)
The embarktionfor Cythera
François Boucher (1703–1770)
Birth of Venus

15. William Hogarth (1697–1764)
Painter and hisPug
Angelica Kauffman (1741–1807)
Woman dressed as vestal virgin

16. Genre paintings were popular ways to represent the Rococo period's bold
and joyous lust for life. This included fete galante, or works denoting outdoor
pastimes, erotic paintings alive with a sense of whimsical hedonism, Arcadian
landscapes, and the "celebrity" portrait, which positioned ordinary people in
the roles of notable historical or allegorical characters.

20. Jewellery
Flowers, foliage, ribbons, scrollwork,feathers
Engraved or embossed on metal.
Enamel was abandoned as a form of decorative
technique
Functional jewellery and chatelaines or snuff boxes

21. Revival necklace
Scroll work

22. Fashion
Men with highheels
Women with hair mounded on top
Curls and twirls with stings of pearl
Lightweight silk layered TAFETTAand SATIN
Light pastel colors
Large floral motifs
Stripes sprinkled withsprigs

23. The Rococo Interior Design

24. The Rococo was an 18th-century style that brought all the focus inside.
While the Rococo style grew to influence architecture, painting, sculpture, and
music, it originated first and foremost as a form of interior design.
So, to understand Rococo design we can't start with grand facades of
buildings; instead we have to look within.

25. Architecture
Lighter, more graceful
Elaborate version of baroque architecture
Asymmetry of forms
Richly decorated
Numerous curves and decorations
Pale color
Jocular and light hearted themes

26. Catherine palace, Russia
the Augustusburg
and Falkenlust
Palaces, Brühl,

27. the Queluz National Palace in
Portugal
theChinese House (Potsdam)

28. Aristocrats hired skilled designers and craftspeople to fill their homes with
lavish, handmade designs that were light, airy, and whimsical.
In most cases, they simply had the interiors of existing buildings redesigned,
without building entirely new homes.
This is one reason why the Rococo is not strongly associated with
architecture, but is associated with interior design.
Among the most notable designers and artisans to build up this emerging
Rococo style were engraver Pierre Le Pautre, goldsmith/designer Juste-
Aurèle Meissonnier, carver Nicolas Pineau, architect Jean Aubert, and
designer Germain Boffrand

29. So, what exactly was this Rococo style of interior design like?
Let's start with the overall aesthetic. Rococo interiors were light and airy.
They felt free, unencumbered, and rejected the confining solemnity of Louis
XIV's Baroque style.
However, at the same time Rococo interiors were unavoidably opulent.
Everything about them was ornate, shiny, elegant, and delicate.

30. • This aesthetic was achieved through the use of light pastel colors, paired
with ivory whites, polished marble, gold, and silver.
• Every material or color in a Rococo room had to be visually light as well as
opulent, creating an overall sense of floating through a gilded cloud.
• This aesthetic was maintained not only in the walls and ceilings of the
room, but in the furniture, flatware, silverware, paintings, and decorations.
Everything had to match, and everything had to be lavish and handmade
by skilled craftspeople.
After all, French aristocrats of the 18th century were not ones to skimp.

31. Decorations and Motifs
With such a focus on handcrafted arts and decorations, as well as lavish
ornamentation, it really should be no surprise that Rococo interiors were
incredibly detailed.
In fact, it's the attention to detail that really defines the Rococo. The
style's name comes from the French word rocaille, which is a decorative
seashell or stone motif.

34. Hotel interior by Germain Boffrand

39. Interior
Fully in control, sportive, fantastic
Sculptural forms expressed in abstract expressions
Flaming, leafy or shell like textures in asymmetrical
sweeps, flourishes and broken curves.
suppress architectonic divisions of architrave frieze
and cornice for picturesque.
Rococo palette softer and paler then those of baroque
pastel pink, lilac, blue and green
decorative elements were rocaille, S and C shaped
scrolls, acanthus leaves, birds and flower and chubby
babies.

40. Furniture
Lighthearted, visually andphysically
Ornate, graceful
role in comfort and versatility
Idea has evolved to a symbol of status
Easily moved around
Matching back
Preferred choice due to its strength

42. Voyeuse chair
Late 18th century
Short legged
Cushion at top

43. Bergere en Gondole
Closed arm chair

44. Italian Console table1730
JusteAurele

45. Rocaille detail State Bedroom Rich Rooms Residenz – Munich, Germany

49. Adding a touch of Rococo to your own home
Here is something to think about if you want to add a touch of Rococo design to
your home:
•Forget about symmetry and think along the lines of sweeping forms, seashells
and scrolls
•Add a piece of furniture with curved legs and sensuous shapes
•Go for patterns full of flowers, birds, animals and leaves
•Introduce one piece in the Rococo style into a modern or minimal interior. The
fine detail and craftsmanship of the Rococo piece will contrast perfectly with the
minimal setting.
•Opt for white and pastel shades
•Adding a Rococo mirror is a very easy way to add some French style
•Think about using fabric or wallpaper with a Rococo pattern to add a touch of
Rococo elegance to your scheme.

50. Famous for its gilded glamour and pastel shades, the
Rococo style is a well-loved style in interior design.
It's seductive, witty, often playful but always elegant.
If you want to add a touch of glamour and elegance to your
home, you can't really go wrong with Rococo