The Rococo Style succeeded the Baroque and was based in France. It is generally associated with the reign of Louis XV. Society’s center shifted from the court to private salons during this period and in the salons personal amusement became the chief concern, rather than the formality and grandeur of the royal court. This naturally included modern male nude art. Jean Antoine Wetteau was one of the earliest of the Rococo Period.

The term “rococo” comes from the French “rocaille”, a rock and sell garden ornamentation. The major themes were romance, mythology and fantasy. A feminine disposition towards play, grace and charm characterized rococo art. These themes can easily be seen in the works of Donato Creti and Pierre Subleyras.