Rococo Final Terminology Flashcards
Cult of the Antique
Fixation on a romanticized antique style
Glorious Revolution
The series of high-tension events in 1688-89 which culminated in the exile of King James II and the accession to the throne of William and Mary. Essential to the development of the constitution and role of Parliament.
Rule of Taste
Standardized understanding of stylish taste circulated primarily through the printing of model interiors.
Formal country house
Sprawling rooms, emphasis on expansion and the exterior. Blenheim, Castle Howard, Houghton Hall (in between).
Social country house
Focus on the interior, rooms each with a specific purpose connected by staircases and hallways. Chiswick, Wanstead Park.
Assembly
British Parliament
Gentry
People of good social position but beneath royalty, own the lands of estates, rising middle class. Push rule of taste.
Palladian style, Neo-Palladianism
Architectural style derived from the work of Andrea Palladio, evolving from the concepts of symmetry, perspective, and the principles of formal classical architecture from Ancient Greek and Roman traditions.
Conversation piece
A group portrait in a domestic or landscape setting depicting the figures chatting or socializing. The subjects may be family members, friends, or members of society. Popularized due to the influence of William Hogarth.
Ha-ha
A ditch with a wall on its inner side below ground level, forming a boundary to a park or garden without interrupting the view. Often used to keep livestock from escaping.
Eye-catcher
Something artificial that has been placed in the landscape as a focal point to catch the eye or gain a viewers attention. Used to decorate or ornament landscapes for aesthetic purposes, typically found on the grounds of stately homes.
Grand Manner
The highest style of art in academic theory based on an idealized, classical approach (High Renaissance, Greek and Roman antiquity). Sir Joshua Reynolds argued painters should not slavishly copy reality but present a generalized/idealized form. Strictly used for history painting but adopted by Reynolds for use in portraiture.
Chinoiserie
European interpretation and imitation of Chinese and other Eastern artistic traditions, especially in the decorative arts and garden design. Popularized in the 18th century due to the rise in trade with China and East Asia.
Pattern book
Provided examples of architectural designs with how-to illustrations of villas, designed to instruct craftsmen and reinforce standards of the acceptable upper-class aesthetic.
Neoclassicism
Movement drawing inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity, sparked primarily by the rediscovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Coincided with the Enlightenment and return of educated students from their Grand Tour.
