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Victoria and Albert Museum

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18th-Century Design Styles

18th-Century Design Styles

With fashions such as Baroque and Rococo, the 18th century saw an increase in opulenct and luxurious design. Meanwhile artists and architects were also looking to the past, both Medieval times and the classical world, and to new trade partners in East Asia..

Baroque

Baroque

The Baroque style, popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, began in Italy and quickly spread to the rest of Europe. Characterised by luxury, drama and ornate detail, the style impacted upon all areas of art and design. In 2010, the V&A hosted the major exhibition ‘Baroque 1620-1800: Style in the Age of Magnificence’..
Style Guide: Palladianism
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Style Guide: Palladianism

Palladianism is a style based on the designs of the 16th-century Italian architect, Andrea Palladio (1508-1580). It was fashionable from about 1715 to 1760
Rococo

Rococo

This is the subject hub for Rococo
Neo-classicism

Neo-classicism

This is the subject hub for Neo-classicism
Style Guide: Chinoiserie
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Style Guide: Chinoiserie

Chinoiserie, from 'chinois' the French for Chinese, was a style inspired by art and design from China, Japan and other Asian countries. The style was at its height from 1750 to 1765.
Style Guide: Medieval Revivals
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Style Guide: Medieval Revivals

The Medieval Revivals style was inspired by architecture and decorative arts from 1000-1600. The interest in Norman, Gothic and Jacobean styles reflected a romantic nostalgia for Britain's past. By the 1790s it had become an important alternative to classical styles.
18th-Century Interior Design

18th-Century Interior Design

The 18th century saw the rise of a number of highly influential interior designers and architects such as William Kent, James ‘Athenian’ Stuart, Robert Adam and Horace Walpole. A number of rooms from 18th-century houses have been reconstructed in the V&A’s British Galleries.
18th Century

18th Century

The 18th century saw the end of the Stuart period and the beginning of the Georgian age. During this period, British artists and designers were increasingly influenced by other cultures, including Europe, the ancient civilations of the classical world, and new Asian trade partners.

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