Final answer:
When the frivolous and decorative Rococo period ended, it was succeeded by Neoclassicism, a style that embraced classical simplicity, proportion, and elegance, and mirrored the intellectual and political changes of the Enlightenment era.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the Rococo period came to an end, it was replaced by Neoclassicism, a movement that embodied a return to the simplicity, proportion, and elegance of the art of ancient Greece and Rome. Neoclassicism was a reaction against the excessive ornamentation and frivolity of the Rococo style. In the 1760s, this new style gained momentum as it reflected the ideals of the Enlightenment, emphasizing reason, order, and logic over the emotional and decorative nature of Rococo. Neoclassicism continued to dominate until the emergence of Romanticism in the late 18th century.
Rococo's decline was evident through the criticism it faced for being considered trivial and overly ornate. Neoclassicism, on the other hand, favored austerity and was closely linked to the growing spirit of intellectualism and political change sweeping across Europe. Notable Rococo artists such as Jean-Honoré Fragonard, known for his work 'The Swing', would soon find their playful and whimsical styles giving way to the more serious and historical themes of Neoclassical artists like Jacques-Louis David.