Editing Rococo (section)

==Etymology==
[[File:Zwiefalten 28 04 2011 23.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Integrated rococo carving, [[stucco]] and [[fresco]] at [[Zwiefalten Abbey]] (1739–1745)]] 
The word ''rococo'' was first used as a humorous variation of the word ''[[rocaille]]'' by [[Pierre-Maurice Quays]] (1777–1803)<ref>Merriam-Webster Dictionary On-Line</ref><ref>Monique Wagner, ''From Gaul to De Gaulle: An Outline of French Civilization.'' Peter Lang, 2005, p. 139. {{ISBN|0-8204-2277-0}}</ref> Rocaille was originally a [[decorative arts|method of decoration]], using pebbles, seashells, and cement, which was often used to decorate grottoes and fountains since the Renaissance.<ref>Larousse dictionary on-line</ref><ref>Marilyn Stokstad, ed. ''Art History''. 4th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.</ref> In the late 17th and early 18th century, rocaille became the term for a kind of decorative motif or ornament that appeared in the late [[Louis XIV style]], in the form of a seashell interlaced with [[acanthus (plant)|acanthus]] leaves. In 1736 the designer and jeweler Jean Mondon published the ''Premier Livre de forme rocquaille et cartel'', a collection of designs for ornaments of furniture and interior decoration. It was the first appearance in print of the term ''rocaille'' to designate the style.{{Sfn|de Morant|1970|page=355}} The carved or moulded seashell motif was combined with palm leaves or twisting vines to decorate doorways, furniture, wall panels and other architectural elements.{{sfn|Renault|2006|p=66}}

The term ''rococo'' was first used in print in 1825 to describe decoration which was "out of style and old-fashioned". It was used in 1828 for decoration "which belonged to the style of the 18th century, overloaded with twisting ornaments". In 1829, the author [[Stendhal]] described rococo as "the rocaille style of the 18th century".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnrtl.fr/etymologie/rococo|title=Etymology of Rococo|publisher=Ortolong: site of the Centre National des Resources Textuelles et Lexicales|language=fr|access-date=12 January 2019}}</ref> 

[[File: Engelszell Stiftskirche - Nepomukaltar 4 Kapitell.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Capital of the [[Engelszell Abbey]], from [[Austria]] (1754–1764)]] 
In the 19th century, the term was used to describe architecture or music which was excessively ornamental.<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/his/CoreArt/art/ancien.html Ancien Regime Rococo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411162829/http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/his/CoreArt/art/ancien.html |date=11 April 2018}}. Bc.edu. Retrieved on 2011-05-29.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=Rococo (1700–1760) |url=http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c17th-mid19th/rococo.htm|access-date=2023-02-08|publisher=HuntFor.com|archive-date=7 October 2009|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091007210702/http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c17th-mid19th/rococo.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Since the mid-19th century, the term has been accepted by [[art historians]]. While there is still some debate about the historical significance of the style, Rococo is now often considered as a distinct period in the development of [[European art]].