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Empire Splendor: French Taste in the Age of Napoleon
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Product Description
France’s Empire period, guided by the grand visions of the Emperor Napoleon, was one of the most sumptuous and creative epochs in French art, architecture, and decoration.
By 1800, Neoclassical architects Percier and Fontaine had left an indelible mark on the Imperial residences and on the palatial homes of the country’s leading families. The elegant decorative sensibility of this period reflected a nostalgia for the treasures of ancient Rome and Egypt and resulted in the creation of stunning, opulent interiors to match equally regal facades.
Empire Splendor is a gorgeous photographic odyssey through France’s most splendid Neoclassical residences, including extravagant chateaus, beautiful urban palaces, and Napoleon’s official domiciles. Renowned curator Bernard Chevallier leads a detailed, room-by-room tour through the finest Empire antechambers, bedrooms, libraries, salons, and beyond. This is a captivating visual experience for historians, decorators, and art lovers alike.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #307543 in Books
- Published on: 2008-10-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 224 pages
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
One of the most respected historians of First Empire France, Bernard Chevallier is the chief curator of the Musées Nationaux des Châteaux de Malmaison et Bois-Préau. Marc Walter is a photographer and graphic designer. His recent books include Dream Palaces and Private Splendor.
Customer Reviews
The Theater of Donald Sultan
Donald Sultan is a highly established artist, specializing in large-scale still-life paintings using a multitude of media, bright colors, and contrasting deep, black forms. Much of his art nears abstract forms, yet maintains familiarity to the viewer of common objects, transformed beyond still-life and into fine art. This is the first collection of his work in almost a decade and most comprehensive produced. There are more than 300 color illustration, and there is an excellent sampling for Sultan's 35-year career. This book is also a timely release prior to two upcoming exhibitions: one at the Mary Ryan Gallery in New York (Jan 22 - Mar 7, 2009) and a retrospective of his first decade at the Contemporary Arts Center Cincinnati (Feb 7 - May 11, 2009). Sultan has been an influential artist for more than three decades, and this book shows why.
French Taste in the Age of Napoleon
Aspects of the French Empire style are shown in lavish color photos taken expressly for this book. To illustrate how the use of gilded surfaces and mirror gave contrast to early 19th century interiors, the photos do have shadows and shallow depth of field which this reviewer sees as a successful prsentation of the subject. As France was full of still-stylish existing private residences at the time of Napoleon, few new homes (other than apartments) were built. A great example, the still-private Hotel Bourriennne, is featured however.
In addition to HOUSES, other chapters are FURNITURE, DINING ROOMS, TABLEWARE, SALONS, TEXTILES, BEDROOMS, WALLPAPER, BATHROOMS AND DRESSING ROOMS, PAINTED DECORATION, STUDIES AND LIBRARIES, LIGHTING, and GARDENS. Informative captions and descriptive text provide extensive information to supplement the color photos, often full page and sometimes double-page.
This book is highly recommended for all interested in early 19th century French classicism.
amazing!
I have a large collection of design books, but this has by far the most beautfull photos i've seen in an interior design book. Just beautiful! Highly recommended even if you're not into Empire style.
