Ilgen - Wallfahrtskirche (pilgrimage church) Mariä Heimsuchung This small rustic ensemble was built in 1721 by an architect as unknown then as he has remained over the centuries, a certain Schmutzel. A master of rococo rusticity, Schmutzel excelled in particular at harmonizing colors. Here he used an off-white, an almost lemon yellow, and a caramel tone - shades that hardly go together, but that he managed to translate into an aesthetic effect bordering on a perversion of taste. The three colors are allowed to subtly interplay with each other, until they resolve into the ceiling of pure white. Schmutzel underscores the architectural and spatial impact of this field of white by leading up to it in a series of wreaths, mascaroons, cartouches, and strings of putti, all of which leave off at the wall tops. Upon entering this little church of Ilgen, we see how the surprising polychromatic harmony joins with the upward thrust of the vibrating wall elements and, in their resolution within the white of the ceiling, thus engaging our gaze in that direction.
Six Marvels in a Nutshell

The Rococo style of art emerged in France in the early 18th century as a continuation of the Baroque style, but in contrast to the heavier themes and darker colors of the Baroque, the Rococo was characterized by an opulence, grace, playfulness, and lightness. Rococo motifs focused on the carefree aristocratic life and on lighthearted romance rather than heroic battles or religious figures; they also revolve heavily around nature and exterior settings. In the mid-late 18th century, rococo was surpassed by the Neoclassic style. The word Rococo was apparently a combination of the French rocaille, or shell, and the Italian barocco, or Baroque style. Due to Rococo love of shell-like curves and focus on decorative arts, some critics used the term to derogatively imply that the style was frivolous or merely fashion. Since the mid 19th century, though, the term has been accepted by art historians. While there is still some debate about the art historical significance of the style, rococo is now widely recognized as a major period in the development of European art.
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