Glossary Term: Rococo
Rococo was an outgrowth of the Baroque period. It flourished in Western Europe from about 1700 to 1780. The word rococo comes from a French word meaning "little rock" or "rockwork".

The Rococo style often appears in decorative art (tapestries, furniture and porcelain) as well as other art and architecture. It is playful, showy, and luxurious. It often draws on symbols from nature, including shells, rocks, vines and flowers. Rococo revered beauty, focusing on the delicate and the ornate, and celebrating the gratification of the senses. Much of Rococo art portrays scenes from classical mythology with a delicacy lacking in Baroque art.

Some of the better known Rococo artists were Antoine Watteau, Jean Honoré Fragonard, and Francois Boucher.

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