Western architecture - Baroque and Rococo

Baroque and late Baroque, or Rococo, are loosely defined terms, generally applied by common consent to European art of the period from the early 17th century to the mid-18th century. Baroque was at first an undisguised term of abuse, probably derived from the Italian word barocco, which was a term used by philosophers during the Middle Ages to describe an obstacle in schematic logic. Subsequently, this became a description for any contorted idea or involuted process of thought. Another possible source is the Portuguese word barroco, with its Spanish form barrueco, used to describe an irregular or imperfectly shaped pearl; …(100 of 75920 words)