Rococo

Rococo grew up in France in the 1720s, in the reign of Louis XV, as a light, sensuous answer to the Baroque grandeur of Versailles. It loves light colors, swirling curves, gaiety and pleasure. Watteau, Boucher and Fragonard are its great painters, and it remained the leading style in Europe until the 1770s. Connected places: Paris · Venice · London.

• Winter SceneFrancisco José de Goya y Lucientes, c. 1786
• A Young Lady with a ParrotRosalba Carriera, c. 1730
• The Dreamer (La Rêveuse)Jean Antoine Watteau, 1712–14
• Fête champêtre (Pastoral Gathering)Jean Antoine Watteau, 1718–21
• The Old SavoyardJean Antoine Watteau, c. 1715
• Two Studies of a Dancer, Raising Her Skirt in Her Two HandsJean Antoine Watteau, 1712/13
• Are They Thinking about the Grape? (Pensent-ils au raisin?)François Boucher, 1747
• Boy with a CarrotFrançois Boucher, 1738
• Study of a TritonFrançois Boucher, 1748/53
• Portrait of a Man in CostumeJean Honoré Fragonard, c. 1767–68
• The Letter, or The Spanish ConversationJean Honoré Fragonard, c. 1778
• Benjamin FranklinJean Honoré Fragonard, c. 1778
• Virgin and Child with Saints Dominic and HyacinthGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1730–35
• Rinaldo and Armida in Her GardenGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1742–45
• Armida Encounters the Sleeping RinaldoGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1742–45
• Armida Abandoned by RinaldoGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1742–45
• Rinaldo and the Magus of AscalonGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1742–45
• Three Angels Appearing to AbrahamGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1726
• Fantasy on the Death of SenecaGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1735/40
• Head of a Young WomanFrançois Boucher, early 1730s
• Music and DanceFrançois Boucher, 1740s
• Cupids in ConspiracyFrançois Boucher, 1740s
• Fountain of VenusFrançois Boucher, 1756
• The Meeting of Abraham and MelchizedekGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1719
• The Last Communion of St. JeromeGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1726
• The Temptation of Saint AnthonyGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1734
• The Adoration of the MagiGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1740
• Study for "The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian" (for the Augustinian monastery at Diessen, Germany)Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1739
• Democritus and Heraclitus Laughing and Sorrowing over the Follies of the WorldGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1742/43
• Punchinellos Cooking and Tasting Gnocchi (Punchinellos' Repast)Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1740/52
• Sketch for a CeilingGiovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1750s
• Head of a PhilosopherGiovanni Domenico Tiepolo, 1758–64
• Study for "The Romancer" (Le Conteur)Jean Antoine Watteau, c. 1716
• Italian ComediansJean Antoine Watteau, 1719/20
• Arbor with Two Children (Le Nid d'Armour)Jean Honoré Fragonard, 1760
• Invocation to LoveJean Honoré Fragonard, c. 1781
• A Boy in a Red-Lined CloakJean Honoré Fragonard, 1780s
• Sarah DupontThomas Gainsborough, c. 1777–79
• Paul Before FelixWilliam Hogarth, c. 1751
• Moses Brought to Pharaoh’s DaughterWilliam Hogarth, 1751