What words can precede MOTIF? Should be interesting in design and (possibly) history?

Question

How might a theatre's interior design be described. For examples:

...a 17th Century motif

...a Victorian motif

What's colorful in both design and (perhaps) history?

Answer 1

A leitmotif (IPA pronunciation: [laɪt məʊ tɪəf]) (also leitmotiv; lit. "leading motif") is a recurring musical theme, associated within a particular piece of music with a particular person, place or idea. The word has also been used by extension to mean any sort of recurring theme, whether in music, literature, or the life of a fictional character or a real person.

Although usually a short melody, it can also be a chord progression or even a simple rhythm. Leitmotifs can help to bind a work together into a coherent whole, and also enable the composer to relate a story without the use of words, or to add an extra level to an already present story.

The word is usually used when talking about dramatic works, especially operas, although leitmotifs are also used in other musical genres, such as instrumental pieces, cinema, and video game music.

Answer 2

The most colorful motif in Western art is probably Rococo (1715-1780).