Reaching its height in France during the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte, "Empire" represents the late development of a neoclassicism that had held sway over Europe since the mid 18th century. Under Napoleon's extraordinary political and aesthetic influence, the style spread throughout the Continent and the United States during the early 19th century and came to embody the glory of the French Empire. Illustrated with a superb collection of paintings, drawings, watercolours, and 150 full-colour photographs of projects in France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the United States Madelaine Deschamps's gracefully written text discusses Empire interior, decorative arts, architecture, gardens, painting, sculpture, music, literature, and lifestyle within the political and economic context that so strongly influenced the development and popularity of the style. Napoleon's political hegemony may have ended long ago, but the style he fostered has remained of enduring interest among architects and designers.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Deschamps, a Parisian writer, focuses here on France and the arts of the French empire under Napoleon, with a 40-page coda on styles elsewhere in Europe and America. With his twin goals of legitimizing his rule and fostering French industry and artistic dominance, Bonaparte was the driving force in an incredibly productive period, attracting and employing the best of a talented group of architects, painters, and decorative artists. The author opens with a quick survey of the French Revolution (1789) and transition to empire by 1804; then follow chapters on furniture, interior decoration, and entertaining. The text breaks no new ground, but the illustrations are rich and well chosen. Physically, the book's large square shape, while allowing generous plate size, is awkward to handle, and the review copy came loose from its binding. Nonetheless, this is a sumptuous survey of the Napoleonic style for general readers.
Jack Perry Brown, Art Inst. of Chicago Lib.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Jack Perry Brown, Art Inst. of Chicago Lib.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The standard for french Empire style,
By Design Book Addict (New York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Empire (Hardcover)
FANTASTIC book!
The photographs, the research-everything!! You will not find a better book about the Empire- especially not in English. A must for any good design library.
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