Dictionary
Theresian Style
The Theresan style (or Theresan Rococo) was an Austrian art form, which emerged between c. 1740 and 1760. It was named after Maria Theresa, the Roman-German Empress who ruled alongside her husband Franz I. Stephan, between 1740 and 1765.
The Theresan style was the Austrian version of Louis Quinze. French Rococo failed to have the same impact in Vienna as elsewhere. This was particularly noticeable in furniture: Maria Theresa regarded furniture as functional objects, which could be made quickly and cheaply, independently of foreign (French) imports. French furniture was only embraced by the fashion-conscious nobility. The Empress was a keen patron of architecture. She employed Nikolaus von Pacassi (also: Paccassi, 1716-90) to rebuild Schloss Schönbrunn, re-design the Hofburg and complete other projects. Von Pacassi executed delicate, and restrained, frequently white gold coloured rococo woodwork. In 1744, following the state’s purchase of the Vienna porcelain manufacturers; porcelain took on an important role in the production of handicrafts. Austrian painting of the Theresan period was characterised by a painterly, visionary expressiveness, as exemplified in the work of Paul Troger, Franz Anton Maulpertsch and Martin Johann Schmid (Kremser Schmidt). This school’s works, however, had little significance within the strict and exact world of Theresan court art. A key court artist was Martin van Meytens (1695-1770), who had numerous followers. He continued the traditions of French high baroque portrait painting. His works were austere, smooth, and linear, and far-removed from the Troger circle’s sensual, painterly works. Between 1743-45 the Swiss-French artist Jean-Étienne Liotard (1702-89) worked in Vienna, and his controlled, precisely detailed style was well suited to the Empress’ taste.
The Theresan style (or Theresan Rococo) was an Austrian art form, which emerged between c. 1740 and 1760. It was named after Maria Theresa, the Roman-German Empress who ruled alongside her husband Franz I. Stephan, between 1740 and 1765.
The Theresan style was the Austrian version of Louis Quinze. French Rococo failed to have the same impact in Vienna as elsewhere. This was particularly noticeable in furniture: Maria Theresa regarded furniture as functional objects, which could be made quickly and cheaply, independently of foreign (French) imports. French furniture was only embraced by the fashion-conscious nobility. The Empress was a keen patron of architecture. She employed Nikolaus von Pacassi (also: Paccassi, 1716-90) to rebuild Schloss Schönbrunn, re-design the Hofburg and complete other projects. Von Pacassi executed delicate, and restrained, frequently white gold coloured rococo woodwork. In 1744, following the state’s purchase of the Vienna porcelain manufacturers; porcelain took on an important role in the production of handicrafts. Austrian painting of the Theresan period was characterised by a painterly, visionary expressiveness, as exemplified in the work of Paul Troger, Franz Anton Maulpertsch and Martin Johann Schmid (Kremser Schmidt). This school’s works, however, had little significance within the strict and exact world of Theresan court art. A key court artist was Martin van Meytens (1695-1770), who had numerous followers. He continued the traditions of French high baroque portrait painting. His works were austere, smooth, and linear, and far-removed from the Troger circle’s sensual, painterly works. Between 1743-45 the Swiss-French artist Jean-Étienne Liotard (1702-89) worked in Vienna, and his controlled, precisely detailed style was well suited to the Empress’ taste.
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