Rococo
18th-century artistic movement and style
Rococo, less commonly Roccoco ( rə-KOH-koh, US also ROH-kə-KOH; French: [ʁɔkɔko] , also [ʁokoko]), is a Western style of architecture, art, and decoration that emerged in France in the 1730s as a reaction against the Louis XIV style. It is characterized by extensive ornamentation, fluid curves, asymmetry, and a smaller scale designed to foster intimacy. It employs rocaille (shell- and pebble-like motifs) and often blends white and pastel colours with gilding and sculpted moulding, using trompe-l'œil frescoes to create spatial illusion. In the visual arts, prevalent themes are aristocratic leisure and the pastoral, depicted in stage-like settings. It is often regarded as the final expression of the Baroque movement and is sometimes called Late Baroque.
Originally known as style rocaille 'rock-work style', Rococo spread from French domestic interiors to other parts of Europe, particularly northern Italy, Austria, southern Germany, broader Central Europe, and Russia. It also influenced painting, sculpture, furniture, silverware, glassware, music, theatre, and literature. It was later adapted for church architecture and became widespread in this form, particularly in Central Europe, Portugal, and South America. By the late 18th century, Rococo was largely replaced by Neoclassicism.
Etymology
The word rococo is a satirical derivation of the French word rocaille, coined by the Neoclassical painter Pierre-Maurice Quays (1777–1803).
“Rococo” enters the record as 18th-century artistic movement and style. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Rococo, 18th-century and artistic can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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The record creator and administrative purpose are central evidence, because official documentation reflects both action and institutional priorities. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 29, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q122960. The Library of Congress control number is sh85007868. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1777 and 1803.
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This entry incorporates text from “Rococo” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.