Paris Rococo is a style in interior design, ornamental arts, painting, architecture, and sculpture that started in Paris in the early 18th century but spread quickly throughout France and then to other nations, most notably Germany and Austria. The term "Rococo" was originally used by French critics to describe works of art that were overly elaborate or luxurious rather than realistic. Rococo styles evolved from Baroque designs that had become very complex and expensive to produce. With no money to spend, many people turned to using gold and silver paint and gilding for their furniture and decoration. These materials were more affordable than real wood or marble, which are traditional elements in French design. Also contributing to the rise of the style are paintings with extremely detailed backgrounds and lots of ornamentation. Architects such as Jacques-Ange Le Blond and Michel-Louis Poulain designed buildings in a dramatic Italianate style. In the realm of sculpture, Jean-Antoine Houdon is considered the father of the style because of his use of extreme exaggeration in his portraits. In Europe, the style reached its peak around 1720-50. After this time, it began to decline because of political turmoil and economic problems. By 1800, most European cities had returned to more classical styles like Neoclassicism or Romanticism.