Rococo
Описание книги
Deriving from the French word rocaille, in reference to the curved forms of shellfish, and the Italian barocco, the French created the term ‘Rococo’. Appearing at the beginning of the 18th century, it rapidly spread to the whole of Europe. Extravagant and light, Rococo responded perfectly to the spontaneity of the aristocracy of the time. In many aspects, this art was linked to its predecessor, Baroque, and it is thus also referred to as late Baroque style. While artists such as Tiepolo, Boucher and Reynolds carried the style to its apogee, the movement was often condemned for its superficiality. In the second half of the 18th century, Rococo began its decline. At the end of the century, facing the advent of Neoclassicism, it was plunged into obscurity. It had to wait nearly a century before art historians could restore it to the radiance of its golden age, which is rediscovered in this work by Klaus H. Carl and Victoria Charles.
Оглавление
Victoria Charles. Rococo
Contemporary History
Wars
Music
Inventions
Art
I. Rococo in France
Fashion
Architecture
The Architects
Painting
Antoine Watteau and His Successors
François Boucher
Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Successors
Sculpture
Goldsmiths
II. Rococo in Italy
Architecture
Decorative Art
Painting
Sculpture
III. Rococo in Germany
Architecture
Painting
Sculpture
Austria and the Czech Republic
IV. The 18th Century in England
Architecture
Painting
Sculpture
V. The 18th Century in Spain
Architecture
Painting
VI. The Transition to the 19th Century
Bibliography
Отрывок из книги
François Boucher, The Toilet of Venus, 1751.
Oil on canvas, 108.3 × 85.1 cm.
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Not until much later, around the end of the 19th century, was the conceptual confusion of the 17th century revisited with a fresh perspective and assessment of the historical developments and a better overview of the socio-political situation. There had already been exaggeration even to the point of tastelessness prior to and during the 17th century, but simply no more so than in earlier periods of world history. Generally speaking, so-called Baroque art was in all spheres merely a reflection of the spirit of the age.
The age of Baroque predominantly coincided with the reign of Louis XIV. Afterwards, in the Regency (Régence) and the first half of the reign of Louis XV (1710–1774), the hitherto strong, powerful forms changed into light, playful and gracefully sinuous lines, bringing to the fore the ornate, mussel-like forms. Asymmetry was raised to the status of law. In interior decoration, all deep shadows and strong colours were avoided; in addition to an abundance of gold, light colours were most popular.
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