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'Rococo Madness': Masterpieces of late Baroque art go on display in Poland’s Wrocław

14.07.2023 21:00
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the National Museum in Wrocław, southwestern Poland, has put on a grand exhibition called “Rococo Madness" to trace the fascination with late Baroque art in this part of Europe.
Photo:
Photo:PAP/Maciej Kulczyński

The exhibition, which opened its doors on Friday at the museum's Pawilon Czterech Kopuł (Four Domes Pavilion) venue, showcases more than 500 pieces of art, including paintings, sculpture, furniture, porcelain, and clothing that reflect the exceptionally ornamental and dramatic style of architecture, art and decoration of the Rococo period, also known as Late Baroque.

Visitors will be able to admire works of Rococo painting and sculpture by artists such as F.A. Scheffler, Canutus, J.G. Ernst, F.A. Sebastini, and J.G. Lehnert. Also on display are works by other European representatives of this style, including Pesne, Platzer, and Coccorante.

The exhibition also showcases objects from the former equipment of Wrocław's Royal Palace as well as 18th-century costumes, crafts, and interiors of the Neorococo chapel of Konary Palace near Wrocław.

Photo: Photo: PAP/Maciej Kulczyński

The show is the result of a collective effort by 17 curators, according to the museum's director, Piotr Oszczanowski.

"We've managed to rally the curators around the ambitious, non-obvious, surprising phenomenon that was Rococo," Oszczanowski said.

He added: "We still debate today whether this style has the right to exist, whether it is more than a theoretical declaration by art historians. Our exhibition presents evidence that this extraordinary style was considered attractive by many artists at the time."

Photo: Photo: PAP/Maciej Kulczyński

According to the organizers, the public's fascination with Rococo art did not end with the 18th century. The exhibition is bookended by installations from contemporary Polish artists Olaf Brzeski and Robert Sochacki.

Oszczanowski explained: "Rococo persisted throughout the 19th century, taking on the form of Neorococo. Even today, this style is inspiring, as evidenced by the installation by Olaf Brzeski."

The exhibition runs until January 14.

(rt/gs)

Source: PAP