18th Century: The Ultimate. Style and Architecture

The 18th century saw several different styles. All were elegant, light, and colorful. Of course, Rococo was the most notable style.

The Baroque style was still around in the early 18th century but quickly transformed into Rococo, its lighter, more delicate cousin.

ROCOCO
Rococo architecture was more graceful than Baroque. The biggest difference between that Rococo prized asymmetrical forms. Rococo structures were rectangular with rounded corners and flat walls. Buildings features lots of marble
columns, domes, and arches. Doors and walls featured intricately carved and gilded friezes. Ceilings and walls were frescoed and decorated thoroughly.

Two of my favorite colors! No wonder I loved being here!

I thought I was in a candy factory!

Armchair, 1755

The actual Rococo style was mostly used in furniture and interior design rather than in architecture. Rococo comes rom the French word "rocaille" which refers to the rock or shell motifs found in the designs. Just like Baroque, natural motifs were featured in Rococo designs, including the acanthus leaf but the Rococo acanthus leaf was more stylized. Curves, curves, curves, baby! S and C scrolls dominated the gold designs of Rococo, as well as elaborately carved forms. Again, Rococo style was developed by designers and craftspeople, which explains the importance of hard-crafted designs and decoration. Rocaille is the name for all the frilly carvings of shells and pebbles in Rococo designs. Nautical motifs such as mermaids and shells were also popular.

Mirror, ~1757

Rococo rooms were designed with pastel colors, asymmetrical designs, and GOLD, baby. Rococo was much more playful than Baroque featured amazing furniture, small sculptures, mirrors, tapestries, and paintings. Metals, porcelain, marble, stucco, and wood were utilized to create the precious and whimsical Rococo decoration.







GEORGIAN

Colonial Georgian house

Column facades were constructed with wood. Notice the beautiful
light and molding!

Symmetry continued its importance in architecture through this time. Moving in to domestic architecture; the Colonial house emerges. Houses are made of brick and stone in tan, red, and white and feature side-gabled roofs, much like houses we're more used to. Georgian architecture reached a wider demographic, such as the middle and upper classes. Georgian buildings were symmetrical on the inside and out (they even had two chimneys) and featured numerous large windows and dormer windows on the top floors. These houses were embellished with moldings and dentalwork.

Georgian dentalwork- looks like teeth!