How Did French Court Influence The French Baroque Style?

This research deals with the Baroque style of the seventeenth and early eighteenth century and its influence on French courts and culture, and how the French court exemplified this style. Many studies have been done on this style period, and it still has a strong influence art and interior design today. The Metropolitan Museum of art has countless articles pertaining to this time period and fashion, and Karla Neilson references its influence in her book about interior textiles. This iconic style took hold of Europe and would be in vogue for more than one hundred years. France became a powerhouse of Baroque style and with the help of its monarch at the time, Louis XIV, helped it establish its place in history.

French Baroque: Exemplifying

It is also a term describing a time period that Karla Neilson notes “is marked with flamboyance, drama, and boisterous ornamentation” and is an “energetic continuation of the renaissance style” (313). Depending on the source exact dates vary, but Neilson states that the Baroque period dates from around 1580-1750. It is the dominant style of what is known as the Counter Reformation . Italy is to be credited with being the birthplace of the ostentatious style known as Baroque, but its footprints are seen all throughout Italy, France, Spain and England. It first originated in the St. peter’s cathedral in Rome, around 1506, but the style had not reached its pinnacle until around 1650 when it slowly began to make its way to Spain and

Elaborate window treatments were common for those who could afford them. Opulent draperies were paired with valances or otherwise known as a pelments and were often tied back. Pelments were embellished with embroidery and passementerie which was made up of fringe, ropes and tassels. They also sometimes featured Louis XIV’s motifs of back-to-back L’s and sunbursts in the center. Beds were also made lavishly and featured the same style of tie-back draperies hanging from a canopy or upholstered pelment. Many of the beds included textiles that were embroidered with gold thread. Louis XIV’s bed was so ornate that sometimes when foreign dignitaries were visiting, he would use his as his throne. Oriental and French rugs would be used as floor