Design 171 Blog 2 - French Rococo Resources

French rococo is a design style that originated in France and was popular during the 18th century.

Book by single author:

Kimball Fiske (1943), The Creation of Rococo, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia.

This book provides an extremely detailed recount of the origination of rococo starting in the late 1600‘s and how it developed and spread across the world up until the end of rococo in france in the late 1700‘s. The book also focusses a lot on the reign of Louis XV and his influence on rococo.

Journal Entry:

Gimelson Deborah (1990), The French Rococo Decorative Arts, The Magazine Antiques, 137, 3, Pg 698

This article provides many visual examples of different pieces of furniture designed in the rococo period. Each object clearly shows some of the key design features that are so recognizable to french rococo design, such as the use of fluid, curved forms and almost over the top gold detail and decoration. The article also provides a detailed look at Madame de Pompadour’s influence on rococo and design in France.

Edited book:

Kristel Smentek, Frick collection (2007) Rococo Exotic: French Mounted Porcelain and The Allure of The East, New York: Frick Collection, New York

This book is a catalogue of reviews and images from an art exhibition that focussed on the idea of how chinese porcelain was combined with the curving detail based on aquatic life to create part of the french rococo style. This would be an excellent visual aid when looking at examples of what makes up rococo.

Website:

Michael Kitson (1997), Art Periods: ROCOCO STYLE (web article), sourced from: 

http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Art/rococo.shtml

This provides an accurate yet to the point summary of what french rococo is and the specific design principals and elements that make it so distinctive. it would be useful as focusses directly on Rococo in France only and its effect on other art periods in french history.

Image:

Henry Marc, (date unknown, around late19th c), ormolu clock,

 sourced from: http://www.timeinvested.co.uk/stock/stock.asp?sec=Mantle

Although this clock was designed a century after rococo had run its course in france it is still an accurate example of the kind of style that was french rococo. The eccentric and lavish decoration around the clock face holds no function or purpose in relation to the actual object, a common trait of rococo. The overall appearance of the clock gives off a sense of fluidity and the idea of the feminine curve.