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Baroque vs Rococo: what is the difference?
Baroque (c. 1600 – 1750) and Rococo (c. 1720 – 1780) side by side.
Rococo grew out of the Baroque in early 18th-century France, so the two share a love of movement and ornament. But where the Baroque is grand, dark and dramatic, the Rococo is light, intimate and playful.
Side by side
| Baroque | Rococo | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | c. 1600–1750 | c. 1720–1780 |
| Where it began | Rome | Paris |
| Mood | Drama, power, religious intensity | Charm, pleasure, romance |
| Colour and light | Deep shadows and strong contrasts (chiaroscuro) | Light pastel colours: pinks, blues, creams |
| Subjects | Religious scenes, martyrdoms, royal power, myth | Love, leisure, aristocratic parties (fêtes galantes) |
| Patrons | The Catholic Church and absolute monarchs | Aristocrats decorating private salons |
| Scale | Monumental | Intimate |
Baroque: key characteristics
- Dramatic contrasts of light and shadow (chiaroscuro and tenebrism)
- Movement, energy and diagonal compositions
- Emotional intensity designed to move the viewer
- Grand scale and theatrical effects in painting, sculpture and architecture
- Used by the Catholic Church after the Counter-Reformation, and by royal courts
Key artists: Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velázquez, Johannes Vermeer, Caravaggio, Anthony van Dyck, Francisco de Zurbarán. Read the full Baroque guide →
Rococo: key characteristics
- Light, pastel colours and delicate brushwork
- Playful, romantic subjects: love, leisure and aristocratic parties (the 'fête galante')
- Curving, asymmetrical decoration with shells and scrolls
- Intimate scale suited to private salons rather than churches
- Elegance and charm rather than grandeur
Key artists: Francisco Goya, Thomas Gainsborough, Giovanni Antonio Canal, Jean-Antoine Watteau, Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Read the full Rococo guide →
Frequently asked questions
Is Rococo part of the Baroque?
Rococo is often called "late Baroque". It developed from Baroque decoration in France around 1720 but has its own lighter character.
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