Louis XV style

Louis XV style

Rococo style of French decorative arts during the reign of Louis XV, when artists produced exquisite decor for the homes of royalty and nobility. Emphasis was laid on the ensemble, so that paintings and sculptures became part of the decorative arts. The full range of richness in decorative techniques was represented—superb carving, ornamentation of all types of metal, inlay work in exotic woods, metal, mother-of-pearl, and ivory, and exquisite lacquered chinoiserie that rivaled products from East Asia. Fantasy joined nature and Asian themes in providing decorative motifs. Notable artists and designers include Jean-Honoré Fragonard, François Boucher, and Jean-Baptiste Oudry.