Discussion Over Lectures 7 & 8

Hello, everyone! Today, I'll be discussing lectures seven and eight, which go over finishes in the Baroque/Rococo and Georgian/Neoclassical periods. In the coming lines, I'll mention what each style includes.

Baroque: This style has based influences in Italy and France. On the Italian side, the designs are generally more religious. A good example of this would be the Triumph of Jesuit Church in Sant'ignazio; the painting on the ceiling includes a scene that doesn't actually exist but deals with a religious moment. As for the French side, the influences come from Louis XIV. A motif that's directly connected to this part of the Baroque period is the fleur de lis. One example of this would be the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles; there's also golden trim and a painted religious scene. However, the difference between what's seen in Italy and France is that the fleur de lis motifs can be found in France.

Rococo: The inspiration for this period derives from Louis XIV (transferring from the Baroque period) and the Age of Enlightenment. Some important characteristics of this time are rocaille (stone), coquilles (shell), and Chinoiserie. An example of this design period would be the Salon Ovale in the Hotel de Soubise where rocaille, coquilles, and a small amount of Chinoiserie are applied.

Georgian: This period gained inspiration from King George and his application of merchantilism. Some distinctive characteristics and motifs are plaster, vibrant paint colors, chair rails, and dark base board. An example that shows several of these aspects is the Wythe House where plaster, chair rails, and dark base boards are used throughout the dining room as well as a bright green strategically used within the space.

Neoclassical: The inspiration for this period is drawn from Herculareum, Pompeii, and Robert Adam. A specific characteristic of this space involves color schemes and intricate ceiling designs. An example of this would be the library in the Kenwood House. There's a domed ceiling and a color scheme that includes pale blue, cream, gold, and maroon/magenta.