The period of the French Baroque reached its zenith during the XVIII century. It was a time of great wealth and power, but the style eventually fell out of favor as neoclassical design gained popularity.
Among the main characteristics of the Baroque was the drama that it created. This drama often included grandeur, and was used to inspire emotions that were akin to awe.
Another characteristic of the Baroque was ornamentation. During this time, architects would decorate every surface of their buildings with art and sculptures. These were meant to add visual complexity and depth to the structures, but were also a way to display their wealth and power.
A lot of this art and sculpture was displayed on exteriors of buildings, but many also found their way into interior spaces as well. One example of this would be a cartouche, which is a decorative sculptural element that adds visual complexity to an interior space.
One of the most important aspects of Baroque architecture is its use of light and shadow. Architects of the time used lighting in order to create a sense of grandeur and drama in their structures.
They were also able to manipulate the different kinds of light that was available to them. For example, they could use white light for the interiors of their buildings, which was then used to highlight the richly decorated details.
The effect of the light was also used to emphasize the different types of materials that were used for the construction of their buildings. For example, Baroque buildings often featured stone walls that were both smooth and rough.
