13TH - 19TH CENTURIES
BAROQUE STYLE
ORIGINS: ITALY, 1600
CHARACTERISTICS: Classical orders, increased ornamentation, curvilinear facades, ovals instead of circles, decorative details
(Campbell, 2013, p. 153)
Biblioteca Joanina, University of Coimbra
Coimbra, Portugal (1728)
Rococo STYLE
ORIGINS: COURT OF
LOUIS XIV @ VERSAILLES
Characteristics: thin swirling ornamental patterns, white or gold plaster on colored background, flamboyant, imaginative
(Campbell, 2013, p. 153)
Austrian National Library
​
Vienna, Austria (1730)
Rocaille:
shell-like ornament, inspiration for Rococo style name
(Campbell, 2013, p. 153)
[formerly known as
The Hofbibliothek,
German for court library]
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
royal libraries
forward-thinking promoters of learning
Monarchs wanted to appear as forward-thinking promoters of learning and scholarly endeavors.
Pre-18th century, royals kept book collections, but there was not an emphasis on their organization or storage. The display and condition of their book collections became of the utmost importance during the 1700s.
King Joao V of Portugal began this endeavor with two of the most lavish royal libraries: Biblioteca Joania and Mafra Palace Library.
(Campbell, 2013, p. 155 & 158)
Mafra Palace Library
Mafra, Portugal (1771)
abbeys &
abbey libraries
CENTERS OF HUGE ESTATES & PALACES FOR MINOR ROYALTY
Characteristics: Uniform buildings, abbey church must be focus of design, long ranges, regularly spaced windows
(Campbell, 2013, p. 173 & 175)
Admont Abbey Library
Admont, Austria (1779)