French Rococo Flashcards
(68 cards)
French Rococo
In 1720s Louis VX began to rule France
In the 18th century a new social attitude began to assert itself; the direction was toward relaxation & pleasure and this was followed by subsequent changes in arts.
French Rococo contrast from French Baroque
Pursuit of pleasure and happiness
A great rejection against regularité, formality and dullness
Madame de Pompadour
Louis XV’s mistress / was interested in arts & design: patronage of arts
This is the first time in history when a woman had power over arts and design.
Madame de Pompadour
Aesthetics of the period relied on…
feminine forms with curvilinear lines.
Aesthetic theories were developed during rococo
Line of beauty was thought to be found in a woman’s body.
Things are beautiful as they have these kinds of curved & soft lines
Rococo designers used three-dimensional free-flowing curves.
In 18th century, interest in nature increased. This resulted in…
novel views in literature and philosophy (Jean-Jack Rousseau-French enlightenment, democracy & natural rights.)
Rococo was almost exclusively a style for…
the court, aristocracy and the nouveaux riches.
Rococo is an interior design style, but not…
It was not effective on exterior facades. It is the first time in history when interior design takes its own path.
Did Rococo focus on large or small changes
rejecting previous design, but not huge changes to infrastructure and city planning
FRENCH ROCOCO MAJOR THEMEs
Feminine influences, Fascination with nature, Overcome of decoration, Furniture becomes the synthesis of art, Gendered spaces, Functionalism controls interiors
Feminine influences
Smaller, casual, intimate apartments (rooms)
space wanted to feel like it had no corners
General softening of ornamental style
The design of furniture becomes…
more conducive to conversation
(lighter, better scaled and easy to move pieces)
Sense of self / gives user power
Greater attention to comfort
previously about self-control
bodily comfort is not as displinted
what do people think when thinking about French furniture
Rococo furniture
Fascination with nature
Nature overcomes architectural grid through idealized nature representations, and asymmetrical forms
Overcome of decoration
The architectural framework of interiors begins to dissolve in Rococo
hide how the structure is working or where windows end and begin
Disintegration of interiors and architecture
Rococo furniture ornament
Even if a piece of furniture is composed of a number of pieces, the structure is hidden under ornamentation
The structure is subverted to design and ornament
Rococo Furniture becomes…
the synthesis of art / Sculptural pieces
Gendered spaces
Separate wings
Functionalism controls interiors
Disengagement of stories for convenience and comfort
It is not possible to tell the second floor plan by looking at the first floor plan
Military losses in wars with England led to financial constraints on royal building projects.
Louis XV period was more concerned with more modest projects: townhouses (for aristocracy and upper middle-class), renovation of interior
French design periods
Baroque, Regency, Rococo
FRENCH BAROQUE
(1660-1715) Louis XIV
