In the age of absolutism in europe, louis xivs france. Of all the louisinspired furniture available today, those ovalbacked chairs are probably the most beloved. He was born in the palace of versailles on 15 february 1710. Born on february 15, 1710, louis xv was king of france for 59 years, from february 1715 until his death in may 1774.
Louis xiv furniture was massive and lavishly covered with sculpture and ornament of gilded bronze in the earlier part of the personal rule of king louis xiv of france 16601690. The fundamental characteristics of louis xv furniture are. To me, this is the most interesting moment in french interiors, with the taste for furniture indicating a shift in values as well as aesthetics on the cusp of. Everything associated with the old regime royal luxury, aristocratic power and privilege was condemned. Louis xv, king of france from 1715 to 1774, whose ineffectual rule contributed to the decline of royal authority that led to the outbreak of the french revolution in 1789. Born in 1638 to king louis xiii and anne of austria. Louis 15th furniture french period furniture louis 15th 1715 1774 the son of louis 14th was only five years old when his father died and too young to take the reign. Explanation of louis xv style chairs french furniture, louis xv. The style louis xv or louis quinze is a style of architecture and decorative arts which. Because of his young age, france was ruled by a regent, philippe of orleans, until 1723. John wolfs book on louis xiv has been noted as the book on louis xiv. A novel of louis xiv by karleen koen, love and louis xiv. This fifteen year period was the most troubled in french history. Changes happened in this time and the extravagant grandeur of the court was no longer.
Twentyfive centuries of style and design in the western tradition. During the second half of the 18thcentury, french furniture underwent a neoclassical revision. French furniture under louis xv little illustrated book on. The furniture of the louis xv period 17151774 is characterized by curved forms, lightness.
In the period of the kings youth, 16431660 when france was effectively run by the regent, anne of austria, the furniture style was that of louis xiii, mixed with the italian influence brought by cardinal mazarin. With the death of louis xiv on 1 september 1715, his grandson, louis xv, born in 1710, became king. Considering that there are many books on art history that illustrate. These designs are found in the country homes of france in normandy, provence and bordeaux. Louis xv contemporary reproduction antique furniture for.
French furniture will simply never go out of style. These beautiful and classic moments in history can still be found an celebrated today. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. Styles, periods and design history this topic covers the varying styles and themes that have evolved over the recorded history of design. In the late 15th century, the french invasion of italy under the reign of louis xii brought the french into contact with the goods, paintings, furniture, and the creative spirit of the italian renaissance, with the initial artistic changes in france often carried out by italian. The revolutionaries of this time suppressed the furniture guilds, which could no longer guarantee the level of craftsmanship. Vintage louis xiv marble top consoles a pair price. Louis xv history of furniture furniture making blog.
Feudal lords reigned over the populous but they did little to affect the high crime. The book is a combination of a biography of louis and a history of france at the time. Louis xv was the grandson of king louis xiv and ruled france between 1715 and 1774. Emphasis was laid on the ensemble, so that painters and sculptors became a part of the. Louis xiv furniture, louis xv furniture, louis xvi furniture.
After about 1690, thanks in large part to the furniture designer andre charles boulle, a more original and delicate style appeared, sometimes known as boulle work. Abe abbas has more than 30 years experience in the furniture industry. Drawing from many periods in french furniture design, particularly louis xv, louis xvi, regence, directoire and louis philippe, country french furniture exemplifies relaxed sophisticated living. These styles can help drive design, and create something that both understands the past but also looks forward just as. We look at the design of various types of furniture and furnishings, the interior architecture, as well as materials and techniques, plus some of the. The finest craftsmen of the time, including jeanhenri riesener. The french renaissance was the cultural and artistic movement in france between the 15th and early 17th centuries. His reign of 72 years and 110 days is the longest recorded of any monarch of a sovereign country in european history. Louis xv chairs can be identified by their curved wood edges with intricately carved surfaces. By 1710 chests were looked upon as old, and so advertised for sale, although they. While all contemporary styles share some common traits, it is not a homogeneous look, far from it. The proponents of this style produced exquisite rococo decor for the enormous number of homes owned by royalty and nobility during the reign of louis xv. The thickness and ornamentation makes them quite different from the ones youd find at the market, however.
Louis genealogical society maintains its research library in the history and genealogy department of the st. While there is some great antique louis xv furniture out there in the market place, our customers kept asking for a better price point. Furniture is also used to hold objects at a convenient height for work as horizontal surfaces above the ground, such as tables and desks, or to store things e. Contained within this antiquarian text is a comprehensive. At the age of five, he succeeded his great grandfather louis xiv as king of france. The chairs of the louis xv style, compared with those of louis xiv, were characterized by. It covers the classics from egyptian, greek and roman proportion types of construction and decoration to modern classics such as art deco and art nouveau and completes your education of. So today, lets do a quick survey of the style of louis xiv, the famous sun king, who brilliantly used architecture, gardens and interiors to construct the ultimate image of majesty. Between 1769 and 1775, the furniture designer andre jacob roubo published a series of books of engravings called lart du menusier, detailing. French furniture under louis xv little illustrated book on old french furniture iii. Louis xv was the greatgrandson of louis xiv and the third son of the duke of burgundy 16821712, and his wife marie adelaide of savoy, the eldest daughter of victor amadeus ii, duke of savoy. Twentyfive centuries of style and design in the western tradition morley, john on.
The rising cost of louis xivs unsuccessful military campaigns, which forced the king to order the destruction of his silver furniture in 1689, caused a drastic retrenchment in his expenditures for the arts. He became king at the age of five on the death of his greatgrandfather louis xiv in 1715. The most typical louis xv chair is the bergere, a wide, low, and deep. Our handy guide will help you spot the differences like pro. Rounded furniture more accurately represents the louis xvi period, rather than louis xiv, yet they work wonderfully in this design. Xiii, louis xiv, louis xv and louis xvi among others of historical. Clean and classic a reaction to the overthetop ornamentation of the louis xv era, design under louis xvi in power from 1774 to 1791, the start of the french r evolution favored a clean and crisp aesthetic inspired by antiquity. When the old king died, at the ripe age of 77, the crown devolved on his greatgrandson, then a child five years old, and therefore a regency became necessary. The french louis chair, including xiv, xv, and xvi styles, is a decor classic.
Louis xv style, in the decorative arts, a rococo style characterized by the superior craftsmanship of 18thcentury cabinetmaking in france. If i had a nickel for every time someone asked me the difference among the louis styles, i could buy a few postcards of versailles. French furniture stylesdirectoire17891804 knowledge. Finally we come to louis xvi, the third and last in our series of 18th century french kings named louis. The renaissance revival style is often considered a reaction to the rococo revival, even though it was in use as early as 1850 it is characterized by an eclectic use of both renaissance and 18thcentury neoclassical motifs on straightlined forms loosely based on 16thcentury french models porcelain, bronze, or motherofpearl plaques were popular embellishments on pieces. Louis xiv, 16381715, king of france 16431715, son and successor of king louis xiii. The most popular of the louis styles today, its clean lines add a historical patina to contemporary interiors. Classic french furniture is more popular than ever, thanks to its impeccable comfort and romantic design. The possibility of his becoming king seemed very remote. The duke on orleans was appointed regent and took control until his death in 1723. During this period, the style of furniture changed little from the louis xiv period. Much of it was designed and made for queen marie antoinette for the new apartments she created in the palace of versailles, palace of fontainebleau, the tuileries palace, and other royal residences. The legs of the chair are gently shaped like an s, in.
The best biography on louis xiv ive read to date is written by jeanchristian petitfils louis xvi. The furniture history society fhs was founded to study furniture of all periods, places and kinds, to increase knowledge and appreciation of it, and to assist in the preservation of furniture and its records. The simplest kind of louis xv writing table is the large bureau plat. Marie antoinette, the 15th child of holy roman emperor francis i and the powerful habsburg empress maria theresa, was born in vienna, austria. A contemporary style is one that is rooted in todays looks and. Louis xvi furniture is characterized by elegance and neoclassicism, a return to ancient greek and roman models. The project gutenberg ebook of the old furniture book, by n. Rooms were dominated by massive cabinets, decorated with columns, frontons, pilasters, balustrades, niches and other decoration. Furniture refers to movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating e. Recognizing the differences among louis xiii, louis xiv, louis xv, and louis xvi and understanding their historic context can help match a clients desires to the aspirations and visions of the culture from which the different louis styles originated. Jeanchristian petitfils but, unfortunately, its in french, and i. Take a look through the various eras in french furniture history so that you can know more about the styles you enjoy most. Early reign after his fathers death his mother, anne of austria, was regent for louis, but the real power was wielded by annes adviser, cardinal mazarin.
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