French Baroque Flashcards
French Baroque
1660’s - 1720’s
Louis XIV
like their god
control freak
Absolutism and Hierarchy
concetto
connect Louis’ reign to heaven
Society had been subjected to…
centralized government that had sought to control their thoughts
Regularitie
Louis XIV wanted to see a certain amount of regularity in design
Gridded and controlled interiors
Enfilade
series of rooms had axial doors. This provided a corridor like passage way through rooms, though a sequence of antechambers
Why were Enfilades not considered corridors
corridors not an idea yet
deeper in a room the more private it gets
Coved ceilings
a concave surface forming on the ceiling
marquetry
floral and vine wood inlay
parquetry
geometric wood inlay / parquet floors
Boiserie
carved gilded wood paneling
Boulle work
technique invented by Charles Boulle
Boulle work design
involved cutting the two sheets of materials simultaneously
enough material for two pieces of furniture
One with tortoise as the background and the other with brass as a background
contrasting colors overlay on top of each other
Charles Boulle
1642 - 1732
Charles Boulle importance
first time that furniture makers and interior designers were known by name
mercantilism
economic model that was in use in Europe in 17th century
everything was produced under government control / king is center of everything / no importation
Salon
Space used for balls
baroque is the high point of…
Bedrooms
Why was the bed so important to French Baroque
alter piece / ceremonial space
absolute monarchy at this time
monarchs held their power through lineage and stability of their dynasty / male child was needed
Charles LeBrun
artist, decorator, interior designer
Charles LeBrun
1619 - 1690
Who did Louis XIV make the head of the Beaux Arts Academy
Charles LeBrun
Beaux Arts Academy
Founded in the 17th century
Beaux Arts Academy purpose
educated talented students in various areas including painting, sculpture, and architecture
Who was the interior designer for Chateaux of Vaux-Le-Vicomte
Charles LeBrun
French Chateau began to develop…
Gender oriented spaces
Chateaux of Vaux-Le-Vicomte floor plan
symmetrical floor plan (one wing for the husband one wing for the wife)
French baroque attention to privacy
rooms became ever more socially exclusive towards the end of the wing. If you were important and close enough you may be able to move to antechamber from the salon
French Baroque represented what through spaces
Social hierarchy
social filters
17th century spaces are significant in terms of social screening
Chateau of Vaux-Le-Vicomte architect
Louis Le Van
Chateau of Vaux-Le-Vicomte landscape architect
Andre Le Notre
Chateau of Vaux-Le-Vicomte had what change in design process
Collaboration between designers
Chateau of Vaux-Le-Vicomte built for
For M. Fouquet
Chateau of Vaux-Le-Vicomte plan
May have to draw for mid-term
cabinet was the most exclusive room
scale becomes smaller and more intimate from salon to cabinet
Chateau of Vaux-Le-Vicomte rooms
Antechamber
grand salon
salon de muses
salon de Hercules
Bedroom of Nicolas Fouquet
Bedroom of Nicolas Fouquet
the minister of finance to King Louis XIV
the transformation of an older castle was begun by architect Louis Le Vau in 1641
PALACE OF VERSAILLES
1661 - 1715
PALACE OF VERSAILLES designers
Louis Le Van - architect
Charles LeBrun - Interior Designer
Andre Le Notre - landscape architect
Louis XIV’s building campaign
sent spies to Venice to learn glass making
wanted to produce everything in France (mercantilism)
highly regulated design
PALACE OF VERSAILLES flooring
Le Brun used parquetry on floor
Why were mirrors used in the PALACE OF VERSAILLES
spatial constraints - first time in history
Palace of Versailles rooms were…
Themed based on gender
Hall of mirrors
wanted a long corridor with large windows on either side, but one side was an inner wall so Le Brun used large panels of float glass
Queen’s Chamber
women seen as softer and delicate
color choices reflect this
Salon of War
Hard surfaces and more straight lines
bodily strength important
Salon of Peace
Same materials, but more delicate in use
Louis XIV’s Bedchamber
Le Brun used a triumphal arch in King’s bedroom
(Emphasis on the bed & bedroom)
The Hercules Drawing Room
Château de Versailles, Paris, France
Room of the Bull’s eye window
Louis XIV was getting older. Rooms become smaller and more intimate towards the end of his reign.
Why were rooms becoming smaller towards the end of Louis XIV reign
Rooms closer to human scale to make easier for older king to navigate
Room of the Bull’s Eye Window decoration
A lighter decoration is used in this space. Substitution of expensive materials with more modest materials-No marble veneers for example. (France was having financial problems)
What does the Room of the Bull’s Eye Window show us
King is losing control over architecture
Baroque furniture
Stiff and formal furniture arrangements. Furniture was designed to be lined up against the wall.
HIERARCHY OF SEATING FURNITURE
Fauteuil, Chaise, Tabouret, Tabouret de grace, Tabouret d’un seul fois
Fauteuil
High-backed upholstered armchair
Chaise
High-backed upholstered armless chair
Tabouret
Upholstered stool
Tabouret de grace
Inherited by loyalty to the King
King given right to sit in a certain seat
Can be passed down
Tabouret d’un seul fois
King given right to sit in a stool for a single time
Commode
Chest of drawers which was introduced during Louis XIV period
Armoire
Cupboard
Torchiere
Floor lamp
Tortoiseshell inlay
Turtle shells used inlaid on furniture
Ormoulu
Gilded bronze ornaments on furniture
André-Charles Boulle
1642 - 1732
Who was André-Charles Boulle
Master cabinetmaker to Louis XIV
The first cabinetmaker to have work named after himself
André-Charles Boulle innovations
His innovation was the use of materials. One of the first cabinetmakers to use gilt-bronze mounts
Mounts were functional (protected the corners and also added sculptural beauty to the piece
Contrasting colors: Brass and tortoiseshell are signature materials
Gilds
Groups that made rules for production of products
Controlled quality
From medieval times
French Baroque Cabinet features
Ionic columns
Lion paw feet (Shows power)
Asian elements / ornaments (Inspiration from other cultures)
S and c curves on decorative elements
General form is straight
French Baroque summary
King Louis is god like and in control
more straight lines than s and c curves
gendered spaces
concepts, colors, materials
grid like and strict
Specific designers for separate parts
remembered by name
architect, interior designer, landscape architect, furniture maker, etc.
