Early and mid 18th c Rococo France Regent Philippe II of Orleans r 1715 1723 Reign of Louis XV 1723 1774 Lessened restrictions on French aristocracy lavish expression Rise in private commissions esp the table piece Explicit sexuality sensuousness Frivolity and lightheartedness Use of pastel colors Stylistic debate of the time color vs line Germain Boffrand interior of room in Hotel de Soubise 1735 1740 one of the most well preserved Rococo interiors that still exist today gilt stucco decoration arabesque patterns in corners pale pastel colors on furniture and walls paintings have intimate feel lighthearted subject material Antoine Watteau Pilgrimage to Cythera 1718 1719 influence of Reuben evident use of color as expressive mode color more important to the artist vs line pastel colors imply lighthearted mood mood is frivolous yet sense of melancholy and nostalgia woman looking back at island wistfully morally neutral woman holding fan reflects increased interest in Asia delicate slender and small figures lavish figures comedia del arte theatre setting into which he put regular people depicts story from Classical mythology pilgrims discover what love means at the birthplace of Aphrodite Cythera Island merging of the real and the fictional contemporary French people in fantastical setting Titian The Feast of Venus 1518 1519 Venetian Box Composition disguised has moralizing element makes use of dark colors figures worshipping Aphrodite interested in portraying the reality of paganism not a conversation piece Watteau Mezzetin 1718 1720 private painting not for display reflects patron s personal taste portrays unidentified figure from comedia del arte not a genre painting fantasy made up subject belongs to fete galante genre Thomas Gainsborough Mrs Richard Brinsley Sheridan 1787 famous soprano singer from London figure reimagined as shepherdess in reality a metropolitan woman reflecting contemporary English interest in pastoral themes return to nature setting is idyllic English countryside Fragonard The Swing 1767 boudoir bedroom painting commissioned by baron who exactly dictated the subject material intrigue sexual story with clandestine scandalous nature man in the bushes is a voyeur getting a view of the woman down below as she swings man pushing the swing is unaware of the secret lover shoe slipping off woman on swing is a possible metaphor for ejaculation statue of Cupid holding finger to lips pebbley style of shrubs pastel colors reflect whimsy tone some greens are near turquoise light greens Rosalba Carriera Portrait of Antoine Watteau 1721 neutral colors hint of red on lips Clodion Nymph and Satyr Carousing 1780 1790 small sculpture table piece terracotta baked in kiln oven lighthearted sensuous tone figures are playful explicit sexuality nymph and satyr nude embracing Hotel lavish town home for aristocracy Gilt stucco small refined patterns with gold leaf pressed on top Rocaille small pebbles Fete galante genre that describes lifestyle of French aristocracy casual activities or recreation they enjoy Comedia del arte theater characterized by inclusion of stock characters in its various fantastical settings Later 18th century Neoclassicism 18th c spread of French influence French revolution in 1789 Tribunes senate Populares vs oligarchy Many discoveries scientific innovation England industrial revolution Philosophers Locke Voltaire against oligarchy Rejection of Rococo aristocracy wasteful neglected needs of people class of elite reveled in sensual pleasures wider concern for community and social problems Book The History of Art praised Greek culture Obsession with ancient Greek Roman culture admired government in addition to art and culture Style moves away from expressive Rococo and Baroque but Baroque influence still Apprenticeship system changed to academy system for art new custom of putting art on display in a salon to be compared with other artists works and discussed artists don t need patronage now can make art to display History painting elevated status with painting this genre represented mastery of technique and style lower esteem still life landscape portraiture Jacques Louis David Oath of the Horatii 1784 commissioned by king s building planner Jacobian sympathies far left who favored end of French monarchy shows the more patriotic scene of the story families acting to help the people leaves out murder border control Rome Horatii family vs Alba Longa Curiatii family vanishing point leads to hands and swords focal point is where arms stretch out to the father s hands arms show concern over sons who are about to undertake dangerous task shadow shows brothers are going to their deaths positions of women s bodies like that of the Madonna with Child red contrasts physical bodies with the swords use of color to create drama emotion use of texture detail Nicolas Poussin Et in Arcadia ego 1637 1638 figures take over space landscape is framing device emphasis of shadows made by figures history painting references ancient history story or contemporary event Angelica Kauffman Cornelia Mother of the Gracchi 1785 artist one of 2 women 1768 20th c in Royal academy in Britain women not allowed to make history paintings still life portraits only Cornelia with her two sons rhetorical gesture of Cornelia saying children are her treasures and not the jewels 2 boys future tribunes of the senate representatives of the people hold scroll book mother will become their advisor and politically influential in general dichotomy between populares vs oligarchy depth of parapet shows space what s on the other side of the wall woman with jewels closer to parapet idea of nurturing learning pleasure use of diagonals new idea that children should be nurtured by the parents themselves not given to nurse nanny teaching children to discover and learn vs settle for aristocrat lifestyle of Elisabeth Vig e Lebrun Self Portrait c 1790 artist associated with Rococo loved fashion gained favor with Marie Antoinette 1783 finally gained admission to royal academy natural pose of one who is painting self portrait head slightly tilted self confidence pop of red on face and in the form of the scarf adds liveliness typical trope of including scarf tied around waist Elisabeth Vig e Lebrun Marie Antoinette with Her Children 1787 Marie Antoinette last queen of France built her own pleasure palaces comment eat cake led to French Revolution elegant hat queen shown as a mother empty cradle her son reveals it in