Baroque and Rococo

In a typical timeline of Western art history, the Baroque period follows the Renaissance and ranges from the early 17th to the late 18th centuries; Rococo style refers to the end of the period and is also called “late baroque.” Baroque art and architecture is characterized by decorative elements and flourishes that create a sense of grandeur. Baroque works elaborate on the Renaissance’s Greco-Roman motifs by dramatizing lighting, composition, and emotion. Rococo art uses a lighter, softer color pallet and subjects idyllic genre scenes, typically of court life or mythology.