Neoclassicism Timeline of Events: 1774-1795
1774: Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette become the rulers of France
1775: American Revolution begins
1776: Americans issue Declaration of Independence
1778: French join Americans in Revolutionary War
1783: The Treaty of Paris recognizes the United States as an independent nation
1785: The Diamond Necklace Scandal increases the unpopularity of Marie Antoinette
1786: Frederick William II succeeds Frederick the Great of Prussia
1787: The Constitutional Convention is called in America
1789: The French Revolution begins with the storming of the Bastille; American Constitution adopted and Washington inaugurated
1791: Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette flee to Varennes; First French Constitution formulated; Mozart dies
1792: France Declares War on Austria; French First Republic Established
1793: Louis XVI Executed; The Reign of Terror begins
1795: Napoleon Bonaparte ends the French Revolution by suppressing the mob on October 5;
1775: American Revolution begins
1776: Americans issue Declaration of Independence
1778: French join Americans in Revolutionary War
1783: The Treaty of Paris recognizes the United States as an independent nation
1785: The Diamond Necklace Scandal increases the unpopularity of Marie Antoinette
1786: Frederick William II succeeds Frederick the Great of Prussia
1787: The Constitutional Convention is called in America
1789: The French Revolution begins with the storming of the Bastille; American Constitution adopted and Washington inaugurated
1791: Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette flee to Varennes; First French Constitution formulated; Mozart dies
1792: France Declares War on Austria; French First Republic Established
1793: Louis XVI Executed; The Reign of Terror begins
1795: Napoleon Bonaparte ends the French Revolution by suppressing the mob on October 5;
Neoclassical Decor
Neoclassical furniture takes cues from ancient Roman and Athenian styles. Symmetry, order, dignified forms with detail such as tapered and fluted legs on tables and chairs as well as backrest finials and scrolled arms. Neoclassical design (Louis XVI, or Louis Seize) would come to supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo/Louis XV style.
Part of the proper education of a gentleman included the "Grand Tour" of Europe and an extended visit to Rome. Some of these students traveled to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. Particular drawings derived from the archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and 1740s at the sites of the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum caused great excitement among intellectuals and designers.
Part of the proper education of a gentleman included the "Grand Tour" of Europe and an extended visit to Rome. Some of these students traveled to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. Particular drawings derived from the archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and 1740s at the sites of the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum caused great excitement among intellectuals and designers.
Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of Neoclassical tables, cabinetry, and chairs are strong and rectilinear. These pieces are basically mini classical architecture. Chair and table legs are shaped like columns and cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.
Neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, medallions, and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns.ism fresh.
Neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, medallions, and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns.ism fresh.
- Interior of L’Assemblée au Salon has elegance and sophistication found in Rococo but without feminine curving lines
- Classical wall pilasters frame the room
- Paneling is strictly rectangular, interrupted by Roman arches
- Lunettes above doors contain classical quotations from Greek friezes and Roman sarcophagi
- Furniture in room is now based on straight lines and geometric shapes rather than serpentine lines
- Straight trumpet legs replaces curved legs
- Patterned upholstery with strictly symmetrical garlanded floral motifs
Directoire/Empire Timeline of Events: 1795-1815
1795: Establishment of the Directory
1796: Napoleon's first campaign in Italy for the Directory
1797: The Waltz is introduced from Germany and becomes the craze of Paris; John Adams becomes President
1798: Napoleon's campaign in Egypt; Swiss COnfederation becomes Helvetic Republic
1799: Napoleon becomes first consul; naval warfare between England, France, and America
1800: Napoleon begins the beautification of Paris
1801: England and Ireland are united
1802: West Point founded; Napoleon becomes consul for life
1803: America makes Louisiana Purchase for $15 million; Napoleonic code of laws issued
1804: Napoleon is crowned emperor; Burr kills Hamilton; Lewis and Clark begin expedition
1805: English Navy wins battle of Trafalgar; Napoleon wins the Battle of Austerlitz
1807: Fulton builds the Claremont, the first practical steamboat and launches it on the Hudson
1810: Napoleon divorces Josephine and marries Marie Louise of Austria
1812: War begins between America and Great Britain; Napoleon invades Russia
1813: Napoleon's armies are defeated at the Battle of Leipzig
1814: Peace talks between America and Great Britain begin; Paris surrenders to allies; Napoleon banished to Elba; Louis XVIII restored to throne; Congress of Vienna called
1815: Napoleon escapes Elba and begins reign of a Hundred Days; Wellington leads allies to crush Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo; Louis XVIII returns for a second time; Napoleon banished to St. Helena
1796: Napoleon's first campaign in Italy for the Directory
1797: The Waltz is introduced from Germany and becomes the craze of Paris; John Adams becomes President
1798: Napoleon's campaign in Egypt; Swiss COnfederation becomes Helvetic Republic
1799: Napoleon becomes first consul; naval warfare between England, France, and America
1800: Napoleon begins the beautification of Paris
1801: England and Ireland are united
1802: West Point founded; Napoleon becomes consul for life
1803: America makes Louisiana Purchase for $15 million; Napoleonic code of laws issued
1804: Napoleon is crowned emperor; Burr kills Hamilton; Lewis and Clark begin expedition
1805: English Navy wins battle of Trafalgar; Napoleon wins the Battle of Austerlitz
1807: Fulton builds the Claremont, the first practical steamboat and launches it on the Hudson
1810: Napoleon divorces Josephine and marries Marie Louise of Austria
1812: War begins between America and Great Britain; Napoleon invades Russia
1813: Napoleon's armies are defeated at the Battle of Leipzig
1814: Peace talks between America and Great Britain begin; Paris surrenders to allies; Napoleon banished to Elba; Louis XVIII restored to throne; Congress of Vienna called
1815: Napoleon escapes Elba and begins reign of a Hundred Days; Wellington leads allies to crush Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo; Louis XVIII returns for a second time; Napoleon banished to St. Helena
Empire Decor
Empire style was intentionally propagandistic and embraced the most monumental in ancient art as suitable analogies to the new French Empire. Napoleon imposed a tyrannical law on artistic production, decreeing that it would be subject to control from Paris and overseen by the architects Percier and Fontaine and the painter Jacques-Louis David. The result was a style whose spectacular success and uniformity was unprecedented in France.
- Bed and wall hangings reminiscent of imperial Roman military tent
- Imperial eagle crowns the bed
- Swans and cornucopias symbolize the empress
- Rug relates to wall paintings at Pompeii
- Couch is a heavy, ornate version of those found in Roman homes
- Furniture in the first fifteen years of the 1800s was heavier, bolder, and less subtly elegant than any furniture in the eighteenth century
Furniture: Dominated by Greco-Roman models, the Empire style - spare, noble, massive - had a studied dignity consistent with Napoleonic majesty. The characteristic furniture types were a bit stiff but imposing: their flat surfaces and sharp corners, together with their lack of moldings, produced an effect of grandeur that was not without beauty. Furniture maker George Jacob dominated the Empire style. Several new pieces of furniture, such as boat beds decorated only on one side," the office "Minister" desk, and "psyche" mirrors became widespread. The most characteristic Empire tables are round, massive versions of the gueridon type and frequently served as dining tables. Seating was usually made of mahogany, was heavy and the backs were always upholstered. Small pieces conceived for precise purposes, became rarer. Console tables were rigid and solemn, usually rectangular, with marble tops resting on thick friezes decorated with bronze fittings, while it's four legs rose from heavy bases.
Materials and techniques: Mahogany was the wood of choice. When it became unavailable due to a blockade, walnut, burled elm, beech, ash yew root, boxwood, olivewood and maple was used. Bronze fittings were placed symmetrically on flat surfaces. Marble tops had sharp corners and were most often gray or black, but white marble tops were sometimes used.
Ornament: Ornamentation was marked by rigorous symmetry. Motifs associated with this rule are the eagle, bee, stars, initials I and N, which were usually inscribed within an imperial laurel crown. Figures of victory bearing palm branches, swans, lions, rose wreaths, climbing grape vines, flat acanthus leaves, Egyptian motifs and geometric shapes such as circles, squares, octagons and ovals were widely used.
Source: French Furniture by Sylvie Chadenet
Source: French Furniture by Sylvie Chadenet