French Restoration style Art and Design Movements Explained

The French Restoration style emerged during the Bourbon Restoration period, from 1814 to 1830. This style is characterized by a mix of old and new elements, reflecting the monarchy's return to power.

Neoclassicism was a dominant art movement during the Restoration period, influencing architectural designs with their emphasis on classical orders, symmetry, and grandeur. Think of the grand châteaux with their imposing facades.

Ornate details and luxurious materials were also hallmarks of the style, reflecting the monarchy's desire to showcase wealth and power. Velvet drapes, gilded mirrors, and intricate wood carvings were just a few of the opulent elements used to create a sense of grandeur.

The French Restoration style also drew inspiration from the 18th-century Rococo movement, with its delicate curves and playful motifs. However, the Restoration style was more restrained, with a focus on balance and proportion rather than whimsy and excess.

A unique perspective: History of Early Modern Period Domes

The French Restoration style was characterized by a focus on horizontal rather than vertical orders in its decoration, as seen in the new residential buildings on the Right Bank in Paris. This was inspired by the style of the Rue de Rivoli.

The width of lots in these new neighborhoods grew larger, from six to eight meters wide for a single house to between twelve and twenty meters for a residential building. This allowed for more spacious living areas.

Typical new residential buildings were four to five stories high, with an attic roof sloping forty-five degrees, broken by five to seven windows. The windows were larger and occupied a larger portion of the façades.

Decoration was provided by ornamental iron shutters and wrought-iron balconies, adding a touch of elegance to the façades. Some homes even featured ornamental ironwork.

In the new residential quarters, such as Nouvelle Athenes and the Square d'Orleans, the hôtel particulier or large private house was often built in a neoclassical style, based on Greek architecture or the style of Palladio.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Houses with Dormer Windows

One of the most iconic architects associated with the French Restoration style is François Mansart, who designed the Château de Maisons-Laffitte, a masterpiece of the period.

His designs often featured symmetrical facades and grandiose proportions, as seen in the Château de Maisons-Laffitte's majestic entrance.

Louis XIV, the Sun King, was a huge influence on the French Restoration style, and his love of opulence and grandeur is reflected in the lavish decorations found in many Restoration-era buildings.

The use of ornate carvings, gilded details, and intricate plasterwork were all hallmarks of the French Restoration style, as seen in the Château de Chantilly's stunning interiors.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a French minister and patron of the arts, played a significant role in promoting the French Restoration style, and his influence can be seen in many of the era's notable buildings.

The French Restoration style was characterized by a sense of grandeur and majesty, as seen in the imposing facades of buildings like the Château de Maisons-Laffitte.

On a similar theme: Château De Marly

The French Restoration style is a beautiful and elegant period in furniture design. It emerged in the early 19th century, following the defeat of Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The style is characterized by a mix of curved lines, soft contours, and whimsical motifs, such as musical instruments and palmettes. Artisans incorporated elements from the Louis XVI and Directoire styles, adding to the unique charm of Restoration furniture.

Geometrical patterns blended with whimsical themes are another hallmark of French Restoration furniture. You'll often see stylized motifs like musical instruments, swans, garlands, rosettes, and cornucopias.

During the Restoration period, chairs were designed with comfort in mind. They featured arched backs, slightly turned out front and back legs, and padding on the armrests and backrests. Gondola chairs, popularized during the Empire period, also gained popularity due to their small size and comfortable design.

Under Charles X, light-colored woods or Bois Clair became the preferred choice for furniture makers. These woods included elm, ash, citronnier, maple, walnut, lemonwood, and orange wood. Dark woods like rosewood, mahogany, and ebony were used for inlays, adding a touch of elegance to the furniture.

Here's a list of popular woods used during the Restoration period:

The use of marquetry inlay was also revived during the Restoration period, adding a touch of refinement to the furniture. Thin and delicate moldings also made a comeback, adding a sense of elegance to the pieces.

During the French Restoration, public spaces and residential areas underwent significant transformations. The city of Paris saw the completion of the Chapelle expiatoire by Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine in 1826, a monument built to commemorate the memory of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

The city's public buildings and monuments were restored to their original purpose, with the church of La Madeleine being turned back into a church from the Temple of Glory. The restoration also saw the completion of the Canal Saint-Martin in 1822 and the building of new suspension bridges over the Seine.

New residential neighborhoods were built on the Right Bank in Paris, with the quarters of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Europe, Beaugrenelle, and Passy being laid out between 1824 and 1826. The typical new residential building was four to five stories high, with an attic roof sloping forty-five degrees.

The decoration of these buildings was largely adapted from that of the Rue de Rivoli, with horizontal rather than vertical orders and simpler decoration. The windows were larger and occupied a larger portion of the façades, and decoration was provided by ornamental iron shutters and wrought-iron balconies.

A fresh viewpoint: Interior Decoration Furniture Design

Here's a comparison of the typical new residential building and the hôtel particulier:

The hôtel particulier was built in a neoclassical style, based on Greek architecture or the style of Palladio, while some houses in the new quarters were made in a more picturesque style, a combination of the Renaissance and classical style, called the Troubadour style.

The French Restoration style saw a surge in romanticism, which became the dominant movement in French literature. This period was marked by the rise of prominent writers who championed freedom of speech and explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

François-René de Chateaubriand, a pioneer of romanticism, began the Restoration as a devoted defender of the Catholic faith and royalist, but gradually shifted to the liberal opposition. His works, such as his essay "Genius of Christianity", had a profound impact on French literature.

Alphonse de Lamartine, Gérard de Nerval, Alfred de Musset, Théophile Gautier, and Prosper Mérimée were some of the other notable romantic writers of the period. They explored the human experience through their works, often focusing on themes of love, nature, and the struggle for freedom.

Take a look at this: Castle Chambord

Honoré de Balzac, a prolific writer, moved to Paris in 1814 and published his first novel, "Les Chouans", in 1829. Alexandre Dumas, another prominent writer, published his first play, "Henry III and His Court", in 1829 at the age of 27.

Victor Hugo, a young poet, declared that he wanted to be "Chateaubriand or nothing". His first book of poems, published in 1822, earned him a royal prize from Louis XVIII. The premiere of his ultra-romantic play "Hernani" caused a riot in the audience, marking a significant moment in French literary history.

Some notable writers of the French Restoration style include: