Week 9

The Three LOUIS

I mention these three consecutive periods in France, not to be academic, but to illustrate the relevance of the way that styles mirror the social, political, and artistic changes of the time. Their continuous reigns span 149 years, ending with Louis XVI and the beginning of modular furniture in France.

By the end of Louis XVI, the Industrial Revolution had already begun in Britain, beginning to democratize access to furnishings. The Industrial Revolution in France followed about 40 years later.

Louis XIV, 1643–1715: Baroque Period

The Louis XIV period was an expression of grandeur and power. Furniture was monumental, formal, and symmetrical, with straight lines, massive, heavy, and imposing. It featured the lavish use of gilding, carved exotic woods, marquetry, bronze mounts, and mythological motifs. The spaces were grand with rich textures.

Louis XV, 1715–1774: Rococo Period

In the Louis XV period, represented by Feminine Elegance & Comfort, there was a shift to intimacy, fluidity, and comfort in interiors. Furniture was smaller than that of Louis XIV, characterized by asymmetry and curved lines. It featured a lighter, more playful design with rich wood veneers, often walnut, oak, or fruitwoods, complemented by delicate gilt bronze mounts. Nature themes abound: shells, flowers, vines, and scrolls. Rooms were designed for leisure and socializing, adorned with pastel upholstery, silk damasks, and floral motifs.

Louis XVI, 1774–1792: Neoclassical Period

The Louis XIV period was characterized by “Reason and Restraint,” a reaction against the excessive ornamentation of Rococo and a return to the symmetrical, geometric, and rectilinear order of the classical ideals of ancient Greece and Rome. The influence of Enlightenment thinking is reflected in calm, rational interiors with subdued, elegant colors. Furniture is delicate in proportion, decorated with laurel wreaths, urns, and medallions with straight legs, often fluted. Furniture became more standardized and sometimes included early forms of modular pieces.