Jean Antoine Watteau, the father of Rococo painting, was born in 1684 near the Flemish border. He is known for inventing a new genre called fêtes galantes, depicting courtship parties.

The French aristocracy transitioned to a new style characterized by asymmetry, graceful curves, and elegance in interior design after the death of Louis XIV. They decorated their homes with stucco adornments, boiserie, and mirrored glass, moving away from the opulence of the previous baroque style.

Painted by Jean-Antoine Watteau, this artwork depicts amorous couples in an idealized pastoral setting on the mythical island of Cythera. It pioneered the fête galante genre and marked the beginning of the Rococo movement.

In 1718, the pannier and mantua became fashionable, featuring wide hoops under the dress to extend the hips out sideways, becoming a staple in formal wear during the Rococo period.

Mahogany wood first appeared in England around 1720 and quickly gained popularity for furniture making, along with walnut wood.

Jean Antoine Watteau, the influential Rococo painter, passed away in 1721. His works often featured elegantly dressed figures in outdoor settings, exchanging pleasantries and enjoying music.

In 1735, the painter William Hogarth organized the St Martin's Lane Academy, known today as the Royal Academy of Arts, with a group of artists and designers in London. This artistic set, including Hubert-Francois Gravelot and Andien de Clerment, played a significant role in introducing and promoting the Rococo style in England.

In 1736, the term 'rocaille' was first used by designer and jeweler Jean Mondon to designate the style of decorative motifs or ornaments that included seashells interlaced with acanthus leaves.

The discoveries of Roman antiquities beginning in 1738 at Herculaneum influenced French architecture towards a more symmetrical and less flamboyant neo-classicism.

Around 1740, the Rococo style started being used in British furniture designs, notably by Thomas Chippendale. His catalogue, Gentleman's and Cabinet-makers' directory (1754), showcased Rococo designs and became a standard in the industry.

In 1742, furniture designers Matthias Lock and Henry Copland began publishing prints that introduced a distinctively British form of Rococo scrollwork. This style became dominant in British Rococo design until the mid-1760s, influencing woodcarving and decorative work.

A double-portrait by Charles Antoine Coypel depicting François de Jullienne and his wife Élisabeth de Séré de Rieux in 1743, displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In 1745, the Rococo period reached its Golden Age with the introduction of a more exotic, oriental culture in France known as a la turque, popularized by Madame de Pompadour.

François Boucher's sensual painting that became a well-known example of the Rococo style.

Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of Louis XV, contributed to the decline of the Rococo style by promoting a shift towards classical art and neoclassical architecture in France.

François Boucher's portrait of Madame de Pompadour as Venus embodies luxury and elegance, reflecting the artist's sensual depictions of notable citizens and past times. The painting was a tribute to Pompadour's role as Venus in a theatrical performance.

Tiepolo's painting depicting the sun's course across the sky with allegorical figures representing Europe, Asia, America, and Africa, influenced by Greek mythology and astrology. The painting was created for the Würzburg Residenz in Germany and is known for its dramatic use of color and composition.

In his work The Analysis of Beauty (1753), William Hogarth promoted the use of a serpentine line in art, considering it more organic and aesthetically ideal.

The book by Thomas Chippendale the Elder, first published in parts and then as a collected edition in 1754, revolutionized furniture design by providing a source of design ideas and patterns for customers, particularly smaller furniture makers outside London.

François Boucher's full-length portrait of Madame de Pompadour symbolizes stylish elegance and intellectual influence, showcasing her engagement in philosophical thought. The work is a social iconography of the time.

The painting 'Simplicity' by Jean-Baptiste Greuze, created in 1759, exemplifies the degenerative qualities of the Rococo period in the later half of the 18th Century. It focuses on sentimental themes and emotional value rather than the traditional aristocratic portraits of the time, like Madame de Pompadour. The artwork is criticized for its soft and plain appearance, lacking in interest due to the artist's overt emotion and poor composition.

Johann Joachim Kändler was the most important modeller of Meissen porcelain, the earliest European factory, which remained the most important until about 1760.

The painting 'Apotheosis of the Pisani Family' was painted by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in 1761. It celebrates the Pisani family's achievements and status through a grand allegorical composition, showcasing Tiepolo's mastery of the Rococo style.

The Rococo period ended in 1767, marking a shift in artistic styles and preferences. The elaborate and ornate Rococo style gave way to new artistic movements and trends.

Thomas Gainsborough's portrait of a boy in blue satin knee breeches challenging traditional aesthetic assumptions by primarily using blue as the main color. The painting combines Rococo visual appeal with elements of realism and prefigures Romanticism.

In 1777, Diana, Viscountess Crosbie was depicted wearing a wrapping gown in a painting by Joshua Reynolds. The wrapping gown was a popular informal dress worn inside the house, characterized by its open front, soft colored fabric, and full skirt.

By 1780, due to critiques from notable thinkers like Voltaire and Diderot, as well as revolutionary fervor in France, the Rococo style fell out of favor.

Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun's self-portrait showcasing aristocratic elegance and artistic prowess, influenced by Peter Paul Rubens. Le Brun was a prominent female Rococo artist known for her innovative portraiture.

By 1785, Rococo had fallen out of fashion in France, being replaced by the Neoclassical style of artists like Jacques-Louis David.

In 1786, Thomas Gainsborough painted a portrait of Mrs. Thomas Hibbert, which is now displayed at Neue Pinakothek München. The painting showcases the fashion and style of the Rococo era.

In 1790, the Robe à l'Anglaise was introduced as a new style in England. It featured a bodice cut in two pieces meeting in the middle front, without Watteau pleats or stomacher.

The term 'rococo' was first used in print in 1825 to describe decoration that was considered 'out of style and old-fashioned'. It later evolved to describe the ornate style of the 18th century.

In 1865, the major Rococo painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard was rediscovered by the de Goncourt brothers. His work subsequently influenced Impressionist artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Berthe Morisot.

In 1892, 'Barock- und Rococo- Architektur' was published in German, focusing on Baroque and Rococo architecture, offering valuable insights into the styles of that era.

In 1967, Pál Kelemen published a book titled 'Baroque and Rococo in Latin America', which discusses the influence of Baroque and Rococo styles in Latin American art and architecture.

Jean Honoré Fragonard's painting 'La coquette fixée' was sold at Christie's New York on April 6, 2006. The painting is a notable example of Rococo art, which was criticized by some for its triviality during the Enlightenment period.

On July 16, 2007, the Victoria and Albert Museum released a Rococo Style Guide, providing insights into the Rococo style showcased in the British Galleries.

The History & Culture Academy of Latgale archived information on the history of Rococo, shedding light on its significance in art, architecture, and luxury.