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Rococo Drawings

ROCOCO STYLE

Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.

The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.

When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.

The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.

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Style: Rococo
Framed Rococo melodramatic drawing of a Woman by Nicolas Lancret
Located in Leesburg, VA
A framed Rococo melodramatic European drawing of a Woman with her Back Turned by Nicolas Lancret Nicolas Lancret Paris, France; first-half of the 18th century Black crayon on paper ...
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Early 18th Century French Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Paint, Paper

Old Master Framed Baroque pencil study for a mythological composition
Located in Leesburg, VA
A framed Baroque pencil study for a Diana and Endymion composition attributed to Giovanni Battista Cipriani Attributed to Giovanni Battista Cipriani Probably London, England; third ...
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Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Drawings

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Paper

Red chalk Old Master Sketch of a Battle Scene after Maarten van Heemskerck
Located in Leesburg, VA
Red chalk Old Master Sketch of a Battle Scene after Maarten van Heemskerck Follower of Maarten van Heemskerck Netherlands; ca. 1600 Red chalk on l...
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17th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Paper

Baron Rais d'Eisenberg, Hand-Colored Equestrian Engraving c. 1747, "Le Brillant"
Located in Morristown, NJ
18th century German, a hand-colored engraving of a dressage horse and rider from Description du Manège Moderne by Friedrich Wilhelm, Baron Rais d' Eisenberg (German, ca. 1700-ca. 1770). Engraved by Bernard Picart (French, 1673-1733). Titled "Le Brillant", this dressage engraving is plate XXXIII. There is a gallery label verso. The print is matted and framed under UF-3 plexiglass, which offers the maximum amount of UV protection (approx. 97%). This print was originally part of an illustrated book Baron d'Eisenberg made describing the art of the cavaliers and depicting the different breeds of horses- The full title of the book is L'Art de Monter a Cheval: ou Description du Manége Moderne, Dans sa Perfection, published in Leipzig: Arkstée et Merkus, 1747). A set of 7 framed engravings from the same book sold at Sotheby's for $9,500 (plus tax and buyers premium). Reference: The author, a German horseman and artist, spent some of his youth at the manège of Saxe-Weimar before entering into the service of the Emperor. He then spent six years in Naples as the Master of Horse of the Viceroy before returning to Vienna where he studied under M. de Regenthal, the imperial Master of Horse. He participated in the coronation of the Emperor Charles V at Frankfurt in 1711, then spent some time in England, but was back in Germany before 1753. He probably died in Tuscany where he was Director and Master of the Horse at the Academy in Pisa. Brunet II, 957; Mennessier de la Lance I, p. 438. The Baron wrote several important and lavishly illustrated books on horses: his Description du manège moderne dans sa perfection, London 1727, and Dictionnaire des termes du manège moderne, 1747, being the best well-known. He dedicated Description du Manège Moderne to King George II and to his son, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Subscribers to the book included royalty and nobility from all over Europe. The engraver was Bernard Picart, born in Paris in 1673. He gained honors at the Academy of Paris at the age of sixteen. He was a master designer and engraver and worked in Paris and Amsterdam until his death in 1733. Dimensions: 9"h x 12"w (sight), 16.5"h x 19.25"w (frame) Condition: Good, some rippling to sheet, not examined out of frame. Provenance: Lombard Antiquarian Maps & Prints, Cape Elizabeth...
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1740s German Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Plexiglass, Wood, Paint, Paper

Period Venetian School Ink Picture Capriccio
By Francesco Guardi
Located in Roma, IT
Important ink drawing representing animated landscape with ruins and aqueduct in the background Venetian school Every item of our Gallery, upon request, is accompanied by a certific...
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Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Glass, Wood

Terkel Kleve Portrait Crayon Engraving of Johannes Ewald
Located in Kastrup, DK
Portrait crayon copper engraving of Johannes Ewald (1743-1781) by Johan Terkel Kleve (1743-1797) Engraving on paper, approx. 1770. Measures incl. frame 24 cm.
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Late 18th Century Danish Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Paper

Pair of 18th Century Venetian Views of the Grand Canal
By Francesco Guardi
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Drawings, one representing San Geremia on the Grand Canal, the other La Salute on the Grand Canal. Both drawings are in a style evocative of Francesco Guardi (1712-1793) specialist o...
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Late 18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Paper

18th Century French Wool and Silk Aubusson Tapestry and Engraving, circa 1750
Located in Milano, IT
La Jeunesse (Youth) Tapestry Polychrome wool and silk France, Aubusson, circa 1750 It measures 107.08 in height x 104.33 in (272 cm height x 265 cm). State of conservation: good The tapestry is accompanied by the engraving from which the subject was taken. The engraving measures 23.50 in x 25.86 in (59.7 cm x 65.7 cm) with the frame. The Aubusson tapestry has controversial origins: some believe that it was the Saracens who imported this type of work into Europe while other authors believe that the production began at the same time as the marriage between Louis I of Bourbon and Maria de Hainaut in 1310. It was at this time that a considerable importation of tapestries from Flanders into France began, followed shortly thereafter by the importation of their production techniques. At the beginning of the seventeenth century a royal edict from Henry IV halted the importation of Flemish tapestries, contributing to the subsequent Expansion of Aubusson production. The status of royal manufacture was to be granted only in 1665, even though the Nantes edict caused a drop in production because of the forced migration of weavers to Germany. The full recovery and the success of the manufacturing took place during the eighteenth century when the great painters and the tapestry manufacturers began to collaborate. Great French artists of the time and specialist painters, the “cartonniers”, painted “cartons de tapisserie” in oil or tempera, all of which were to be a source for the tapestries. As an alternative to the “cartons”, scenes taken from prints and engravings were freely used. The tapestry in question, made of wool and silk, is in good condition; the colors are still fresh and the silks, which give brightness to the scene, are well preserved. There are a small number of integrative restorations present, while the lining and the suspension system have been recently refurbished. The work is made with a flat-weave, according to the custom of the Aubusson manufactures, which is clearly demonstrated by this work since it shows all the technical and material characteristics typical of the first half of the eighteenth-century production: the “Jeunesse” was probably woven in the middle of the XVIII century. The scene itself is compelling: a rural clearing is depicted, centered around a tall tree with dense fronds with lance-shaped leaves. In the shade of this tree some scenes of courtship can be seen. A couple hugs each other, one is caught stealing a kiss and another, lying softly on the grass, is still at the early stages of courtship: together with the suitor the girl looks with smiling malice at the kissing couple. On the right, two young men practice archery while aiming at a target placed on top of a pole. The scene, with male and female characters intent on games and gallantry in a festive atmosphere, is taken - faithfully, but in mirror-image - from an engraving, which in turn was itself taken from the painting (now kept at the National Gallery in London, inv. NG103 and part of a series with the four ages of man) by Nicolas Lancret, produced around 1735. The tapestry is accompanied by a copy of the engraving, which bears, at the bottom, the name of the author (“N. Lancret pinxit”), the name of the engraver (“N. De Larmessin sculpsit”) and four short verses on the subject of love disputes: Pourquoi tous ces combats si chers a la jeunesse, Quels frivoles talents veut-elle mettre au jour? Non: chacun voudroit vaincre aux yeux de sa Maitresse, La Lice est une Scène ou triomphe l’Amour. Why all these fights so dear to youth, What frivolous talents does it want to bring to light? No: everyone would want to win in the eyes of his Mistress, The Lice is a Scene where Love triumphs. At the bottom we read: “A’ Paris chez N. De Larmessin graveur du Roy Rue de Noyer à la 4 (?) porte cochère a droite entrant par la Rue St. Jacques A.P.D.R. [Avec Privilège Du Roy]”. Nicolas Lancret (1690-1743), along with Antoine Watteau, was a pupil of Pierre Durin and Claude Gillot...
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Mid-18th Century French Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Tapestry, Wool, Silk

Large Red Chalk Drawing, 18th Century Italian School
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Nude male academy. Red chalk on paper. While the artist who drew this drawing is not known, the confidence in the trait along with the fascinating perspect...
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Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Paper

Giovanni Antonio Canal 'Canaletto' Etching of Prato Della, Venice, 1697-1768
By Giovanni Antonio Canal (Canaletto)
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Lovely etching on paper in back ink by Giovanni Antonio Canal (Canaletto). Measurements: 22" x 15" Hand-numbered in pencil at the bottom right with the number 6. Part of a co...
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18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Paper

Drawing of Children Playing, Circle of Francois Boucher
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Drawing of children playing besides a basin of water. Framed in a Louis XVI giltwood frame. Typical of the style and subjects of Francois Boucher. Chalk and pencil on paper.
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Late 18th Century French Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Paper

Original Drawing, Circle of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 1696-1770 Venice, Italy
By Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Original Drawing, Circle of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 1696-1770 Venice, Italy Although we offer this old master drawing as circle of Tiepolo, we are convinced, based on the composi...
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18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Paper

Large Drawing in the Style of Guardi, Italian School
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Venetian Capriccio, after Francesco Guardi (Italian, 1712-1793) Unsigned, with a label from Wandenberg Freres (Paris) affixed to the back of the mat.
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19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Drawings

Materials

Ink

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Beautiful 17th Century Red Chalk Drawing of the Medici Lion by Domenico Vacca
Located in Jesteburg, DE
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Three 19th Century Equestrian / Fox Hunt Hand Colored Engravings
Located in San Francisco, CA
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Mid-19th Century English Antique Rococo Drawings

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19th Century Seated Woman Drawing
Located in Seguin, TX
Pencil on thin paper study of woman in chair. Late 19th century, unsigned. Unframed, minor smudging.
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19th Century Seated Woman Drawing
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H 16 in W 12.5 in D 0.1 in
19th C Drawing, Pencil on Paper, Framed and Signed
Located in Leuven , BE
Unknown academy student 19th c drawing, pencil on paper, framed, signed and dated.
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19th Century Belgian Antique Rococo Drawings

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French Neoclassical Drawing Woman with Children Framed by the Medici Society
Located in Miami, FL
A playful neoclassical drawing of a woman with children framed by the Medici Society in London. Presented in a professional gilt wood frame. Measures:...
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1980s American School Style Interior Scene of a Sitting Room Watercolor Painting
Located in Morristown, NJ
American School (20th c.), Interior scene, watercolor on paper, signed and dated "Wisner, '81" lower right. A charming, colorful and detailed representation of a beautiful room-scape. It makes me want to grab a good book and snuggle up by the fire. The framing is by The House of Heydenryk...
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Pair of Rare Signed Art Deco Lithographs by Boris Lovet-Lorski
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of rare signed Art Deco lithographs by Boris Lovet-Lorski. Lacquered wood frames. Boris Lovet-Lorski (1894-1973), sculptor, lithographer, and painter who contributed significantly to the American Art Deco movement, was born in Lithuania in 1894. Trained as an architect at the Royal Academy in Petrograd, Boris Lovet-Lorski was very aware of volume and structural space. His architectural background combined with other influences like the flattened aesthetic of Art Deco, produce a distinctly original style. Along with his idealized subjects, the originality and artistry of his design quickly won the young sculptor...
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1930s Lithuanian Vintage Rococo Drawings

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1980s Great Masters Expressionism Rafael Coronel Pencil Paper Drawing Signed
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Rafael Coronel Art Paper Pencil drawing signed. Beautiful art piece expressionism of past great masters. Carved wood frame finished in gilt. Non-reflecti...
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1980s Mexican Vintage Rococo Drawings

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Previously Available Items
French 18th Century Watercolor 'Blind Man's Bluff'
Located in Stamford, CT
A fine French Rococo watercolor depicting and amusing scene of the game 'Blind Man's Bluff', a popular subject in 18th century Europe. Goya, Fragonard and Boucher all painted the subject. This watercolor has similarities to a painting by Nicolas Lancret, (1690-1743) Blindman’s Bluff (Le jeu de colin-maillard). 'The drawing portrays and amorous scene, that of 'jeu d'amour' in which the blindfolded participants are meant to guess the identity of the players who touch them in a play on the blindness of love. Originally a children's game, blindman's bluff was adopted by noble adult society and furnished Lancret with a subject in which he specialized: aristocratic games played indoors.' J P Morgan Library Painted on paper laid down on another sheet, no signature that I can see. In an Empire rosewood frame with gilt wood inner molding. A charming piece of 18th century French art...
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18th Century French Antique Rococo Drawings

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Pair of 18th Century Fantasy Botanical Drawings by Jean Pillement
By Jean-Baptiste Pillement
Located in New York, NY
These two drawings by are by Jean Pillement, the well-known French artist of the Rococo period. They were executed in red and black chalk, and depict fa...
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Watercolor Designs for a Snuff Box, 18th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The oval box with top, bottom and side details.
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Drawing, Circle of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, circa 1750
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Mid-18th century Italian school, circle of Circle of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (b. 1696 - d. 1770), black ink wash drawing of classical figure in garden landscape attended by putti. ...
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Rare 18th Italian Old Master Auto Portrait of the Artist, Rococo Style, Signed
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Located in Paris, FR
Rare, 18th century Italian old master for kings and queens, Giosue Scotti, auto portrait of the artist. Signed on the back: Josue Scotti pittore di Milano, circa 1771 Paint...
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Set of Four Drawings, French School, Follower of François Boucher
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Allegories of the senses. Pencil and gouache on paper.
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Late 18th Century French Antique Rococo Drawings

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Four Early 19th Century French Ink and Gouache Drawings
Located in Hudson, NY
This lovely set of drawings in the style of Francois Boucher depict children in nature. Done in ink with white gouache highlights creating a monochromatic yet dramatic statement on ...
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19th Century French Antique Rococo Drawings

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Glass, Gouache

Rococo drawings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Rococo drawings for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage drawings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Rococo drawings made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original drawings, popular names associated with this style include Aubusson Manufacture, Giovanni Antonio Canal (Canaletto), Eisenberg, and Giosuè Scotti. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for drawings differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $321 and tops out at $15,095 while the average work can sell for $3,188.

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