Rococo
(from the French word rocaille = construction of stones and shells used for artificial caves and garden’s rocks): Tendency manifested mainly in French art of the 18th century. It was kind of a reaction to the heavy, pompous and formal atmosphere of the court of Louis XIV and was characterized by the use of soft colors and sleek curves, in order to create a sense of elegance, grace and cheer. These features are evident in both the painting of that time and the interior design of any kind- and that was probably the preferred scope of the principles of the Rococo. Outside France, it is worth mentioning as examples of Rococo the paintings of Tiepolo and, in a sense, of Goya, and a series of remarkable churches in Austria and southern Germany. In the second half of 18th century Rococo gave way as a dominant style to neoclassicism.