Final answer:
Jean-Antoine Watteau is acknowledged as the founder of the Rococo style in painting, which is known for light colors, naturalistic scenes, and playful subjects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Founder of the Rococo Style in Painting
The individual credited as the founder of Rococo style in painting is Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721), a French painter who initiated a departure from the darker and more severe elements of Baroque art and introduced lighter colors, playful subjects, and more naturalistic scenes. Watteau's work often featured comedic figures and ballet dancers, as seen in his painting 'The Clown'. Furthermore, Antoine Watteau is known for his soft application of paint, dreamy atmosphere, and depiction of classical themes revolving around youth and love, which became hallmarks of the Rococo style. His influential work laid the groundwork for subsequent Rococo artists such as François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard, who carried on the traditions of flowery panoramas, elaborate dresses, and scenes filled with frivolous play. Rococo is characterized by ornamental elements, asymmetrical forms, curved lines, gold and pastel palettes, and themes that are often playful or witty.
While Watteau set the tone for Rococo painting, the style itself derives its name from the French words rocaille (stone) and coquilles (shell), indicating its decorative and ornate nature. Rococo painting is considered to be the apex of decorative art and played a crucial role in the evolution of painting styles.