During the 17th and 18th centuries appeared a dainty and lighthearted art which reflected the way of life of King Louis XV. The charm of the French taste shown in the palace of Versailles came to be regarded by German and Austrian princes as the model for court art. From 1730 Baroque architecture was decorated with delicate flowing forms based on plant and shell motifs, Gothic and Chinese designs.
Sculpture of the period consisted of sweet and sentimental subjects taken from literary themes. Painters of the Rococo style were:
Watteau (1684 to 1721) who studied Rubens and provided light decorative painting of an aristocratic nature.
Boucher (1703 to 1770) painted sentimental flowery pictures placing emphasis on rich silky textures of silk, satin and skin.
Fragonard (1762 to 1806) continued in the manner of Boucher producing frivolous and spontaneous pictures.