Colleen Allen, age 13, of Utica, N.Y. for her question:

WHAT IS ROCOCO ART?

Rococo is a style of art that flourished in western Europe from about 1720 until about 1780. The style was especially important in France.

With rococo art, artists used irregular flowing curves, shimmering surfaces and elaborate ornamentation. The word rococo comes from a French word meaning a fanciful rock or shell design.

Rococo developed out of an ornate style called baroque. Rococo art is more delicate and has a feeling of relaxation, while the baroque style is heroic and energetic.

The rococo style was used in painting, sculpture, architecture and the design of furniture, textiles, porcelain and clothing.

Artists painted classical mythology subjects in playful, intimate, make believe outdoor settings. Aristocratic ladies and gentlemen were often represented in their paintings.

In architecture, the richness of rococo ornamentation reached its greatest splendor in the palaces, monasteries and churches of southern Germany and Austria.