Style Worsens

Dates

  • Beginning of the style: 1769. This style will undergo revolutionary interruptions but without preventing its prolongation. For some, truths beginnings of this style are in 1803 after the campaigns of Egypt and Italy.
  • Fine of the style: 1821 (but Giedion gives like term that of the end of the collaboration of Percier and Fontaine, is 1814).

Periods

The Empire style takes its rise thanks to the orders and directives of Napoleon 1st, but it will perdurera after its disappearance, it is undoubtedly why it does not bear the name of the emperor.

One finds the first steps at the end of the Directoire but appears of them especially with the return of Napoleon of the campaigns of Italy and Egypt.

Preceding or preexistent styles

It is not really in continuity of Louis XVI, whose abandonment was announced by very the short period of the Directoire which fits in the neo-classic current European, and announces the Empire style, which appears about 1803.

The Empire style undergoes the revolutionary cut but is nevertheless prolonged until in 1821.

Political situation and cultural

The Emperor Napoleon 1st imposes his taste for the solid elements and imposing. Its military campaigns, such that of Egypt, inspire certain decorations. The warlike attributes abound. It is as thanks to the expansion of the Empire as the style is essential in all Europe.

Starting from 1806 and English blockade, the cabinetmakers will be obliged to give up exotic gasolines, and will use the Noyer, the maple, the Tilleul and the Frêne.

Esthetics

Main features

  • Rigor of the lines, right-hand sides and scrupulously orthogonal;
  • Hiératisme of the unit;
  • Prevalence of the mahogany tree;
  • Absence of marquetry;
  • Decoration of bronze out of bracket: laurel wreath, star, palmette, bee, dancing nymph
  • architectural form

Ornamentation

The pendulums, glosses, brackets of light and the pieces of furniture present many decorative carved wood attributes although bronze dominates.

Subjects warlike, Roman, sphinges, sphinges, " Renommées" (creatures carrying wings of angels), lions, dolphins, swans, bees.

The fabrics are satin, the taffeta, the moire, velvet, the cashmere, and still the Jouy fabric.

The colors are the gold yellow, the green, the crimson one, the purple one and the crimson.

Furniture

The wood of mahogany tree is used until 1806.

The Emperor issues the blockade closing the continent with the English transport companies. He recommends the use of wood natives: oak, walnut tree, ash, maple.

The interiors of the pieces of furniture are refined than at the XVIIIe century.

Assemblies with " tail of aronde" on oak are current.

Current pieces of furniture

The cellars with liquors start to be popularized, and form integral part of the trousseau of the traveller.

New pieces of furniture

The beds in boat or out of nacelle , the office Minister , the cupboard with ice, the psyché , the tripod Pedestal table, seats massive with the stiff feet finishing out of claws of lion, posterior feet in " saber".

Materials

  • the Acajou of Cuba very widespread, is used in plating or solid mass.
  • Starting from 1806 and of the English blockade, one will use the Noyer, the maple, the Tilleul and the Frêne.
  • the cabinetmakers who prefer to work the vein of wood will use the magnifying glass of Orme, the root of yew or the Thuya for their decorative effects.

Techniques and tools

Cabinetmakers representative of the style

  • Georges Jacob and his second wire whose stamp is " Jacob D. street Meslee"
  • François-Honore Jacob-Desmalter (1770-1841)

In arts…

Structure

Painting

  • Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825)

Sculpture

  • Thomire (large bronzier)

Goldsmithery

  • Martin-Guillaume Biennais goldsmith (1764-1843)
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