English Renaissance- Neoclassic

The late renaissance neoclassic period lasted from 1750-1830 and was a Georgian style. Robert Adams was a man who was serious about the revival of classical design. He was an architect, interior designer, and a furniture designer. His designs were delicate and finely detailed and the architectural effects he used were classical columns/pilasters, entablatures, arch forms, domes and panels ornamented with classical motifs. 

An example of Robert Adams design is Lansdowne House in London. You can see from the picture below he used a lot of classical architectural devices with the columns, pilasters and entablatures, arched niches, and medallions enclosing classical bas-relief. Also, panels were usually sunk into the wall and the ceilings were delicate with octagon, fans, and ellipses. 

Lansdowne House

The Syon House was an extremely formal style with painted surfaces and designs. This house had complete unity to the total composition. The plans are usually elliptical or rectangular with semicircular end walls or with apses. The ceilings were normally tinted and painted and the walls were generally pale green or cream with panels of purple or faded rose. 

 

The video below gives a virtual tour of the Syon House and its surroundings.

The most important pieces were mirrors. They were usually oval in a flat, reeded molding. it contained open linear delicate design of festoons, and swags of husks or bellflowers. The mirrors were often metal and then painted to match the frame.

Thomas Sheraton was a man who had a large influx of French furniture in the last decade of the 18th century. He was primarily a designer and his style was elegant, crisp and light. His chairs had square back legs and seats with an ornate top rail. He used lyre, vase, oval or diamond forms. Also, drapery festoon was found throughout his designs. His three main creations were the kidney-shaped pedestal desk, sideboard with a brass rod, and folding furniture. 

Current Applications:

Discussion: 

From Justine's blog I learned a lot about the furniture. Comfort was an important factor for these new standards and upholstery showed up for the first time. I also learned that William Kent and Queen Ann were two other people who made an impact on the interior design community of this time. Ariana taught me that the biggest export from the English Renaissance is an exterior- the Tudor style home built with timber framing. 

The French Baroque

Louis XIV was an important man in the French Baroque period. He created a notional style of art. The Vaux-le-Vicomte is apart of the French Baroque and entails 105 lavish rooms, 170 acres of gardens, persian carpets, gold chandeliers, gold clocks, silver vases, and entertained 6,000 guests. Below is a picture of the Charles Le Brun dining room at the Vaux-le-Vicomte.

Palais de Versailles also made an impact on the French Baroque period. It was originally a hunting lodge and started in 1668. This housed 10,000 people and was designed by Louis Vau. The Palis de Versailles had several classical architecture and decoration. They used rectangular shapes, symmetrical design, and balances windows with mirrors. In the interiors you will find paneling usually white, off-white or gray with moldings carved ornament gilded, brighter colors in paintings, tapestries and rugs, and the furniture used was usually found against walls.

The Palais de Versailles has a beautiful main garden facade. The scale and details remain the same but they have built extensions on the north and south side. It has advancing and receding planes and floor levels visible on the exterior. It contains sculptured figures and has reflecting pools that project images of the buildings. 

If you are interested in knowing more about Palais de Versailles, here is a youtube video that shows everything form the interiors to the garden facade. 

The Baroque has very interesting furniture pieces. The master of Marquetry, Andre Charles Boulle was a chief cabinetmaker and was famous for his elaborate armoires. He worked at Versailles where the mirrors walls, the floors of wood mosaic, the inlaid paneling and the marquetery furniture in the Cabinet de Dauphin were regarded as his most remarkable work. The materials used were tortoiseshell, metal, brass or silver, and ebony. 

Current Applications: 

Discussion:

The two blogs I reviewed were Dana's and Flor. Dana's gave me a lot of great information about the french furniture. Their furniture made a great impact on interior design throughout the world. We still use a lot of their furniture designs today. Flor focused her attention on the neoclassic period. She talked a lot about the chateaus design designed by the french architects which rulers and kings used as getaway and hunting places.