FRENCH RENAISSANCE. "In all new work that would look forth To more than antiquarian worth, Palladio's pediments and bases, Or some hing such, will find their places."-CLough. 1. INFLUENCES. i. Geographical.-See previous sections, and note also that France has now become more clearly defined in its boundaries, and hereafter, in spite of the conquests of Louis XIV., the race does not permanently extend its limits. ii. Geological.-Refer back to pages 167 and 254. Note that Paris is built in a quarry, so to speak, of a fine-grained building As London is a brick, so Paris is a stone city. stone. iii. Climate.-Refer back to page 167. iv. Religion.-The Reformation maintained practically no hold in France, the old order remaining until the end of the eighteenth century. As, moreover, the supply of churches erected during the medieval period proved adequate, it is the domestic work which takes the lead in this period. Thus the Louis XIV. style, which had an universal influence upon interiors, and furniture, had little effect upon churches. The Jesuit style (page 353) prevailed in those built during this period. v. Social and Political.-Paris at this time was the capital of a compact and rapidly consolidating kingdom, and from Paris emanated any movement, not only in architecture, but also in science and literature. The number of châteaux erected during the early periods of the Renaissance in France was due to many social causes. The invasion of Italy by Charles VIII. in 1494, and by Francis I. in 1527, in vindication of their claims to the thrones of Naples and Milan, marks the distribution of Italian artists and workmen over Europe, and more especially France, many returning in the train of the French kings. Among the chief of the artists were Leonardo da Vinci, Cellini, Serlio, Vignola, Rosso, Primaticcio, and Cortana. In the later period, the Italian Bernini was the guest of Louis XIV. A band of Italians journeying from place to place was responsible for much of the picturesque early Renaissance south of the Loire. vi. Historical. The English were driven from France in 1543, and the accession of Louis XI. in A.D. 1461 practically led to the consolidation of France into one kingdom by the reconciliation of the Duke of Burgundy. During the first half of the sixteenth century Italy became the battlefield of Europe. In 1494 Charles VIII. of France, claiming the kingdom of Naples, marched through Italy. In 1508 Louis joined the league of Cambray formed against Venice. Florence was the ally of France during all this period. Francis I. was defeated and taken prisoner by the Spaniards at the Battle of Pavia, 1525. In these wars the French kings failed, it will be seen, in their actual object, but they were thus brought into contact with the superior civilization of Italy, and drawn into the Renaissance movement. In their own country they were becoming more absolute. From 1558 to the end of the century, the religious wars, between the Huguenots and Catholics, distracted the country. The Massacre of St. Bartholomew took place at Paris, 1572, after which an emigration of Huguenots to England took place. During the reign of Louis XIII. (1610-1643) Cardinal Richelieu strengthened the royal power. Cardinal Mazarin continued his policy, and Louis XIV., ascending the throne in 1643, became an absolute monarch. His conquests, in the Netherlands and Germany, led to a general coalition against him, and to his great defeat at the hands of Marlborough. The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 led to a further emigration of Protestants to England. In the reign of Louis XV. (1715-1774) the evil effects of despotism and bad government became more marked, and the writers Voltaire, Rousseau, and others weakened authority by their attacks, and prepared the ground for the great revolution that began in 1792-1793. 2. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER. Refer to Renaissance Architecture in Europe (p. 306). To enable the student to better understand the architectural character of French Renaissance it is compared with Italian in the following table:- ITALIAN RENAISSANCE. A direct return to classic forms occurred. Considerable variety however arose in use and disposition of such forms (No. 165). FRENCH RENAISSANCE. A period of transition in which ITALIAN RENAISSANCE. Principal buildings erected in towns, as Florence, Rome, and Venice, being palaces for kings, dukes and wealthy and powerful popes (Nos. 153, 156 and 168). Severe classic disposition not only appropriate but necessary in the narrow streets of Florence and Rome, or on the straight waterways of Venice. Influence of ancient Rome and her A street front in Florence, Venice, FRENCH RENAISSANCE. Principal buildings erected in the Influence of Rome less apparent, partly because of distance and association. A country chateau is seen on all sides, and the importance of a picturesque grouping from every point of view is apparent (Nos. 181, 182). Predominant characteristics are picturesqueness, and a tendency to Gothic verticality (No. 183). Early buildings are principally châteaux for the nobility. Francis I. was a monarch with literary and artistic tendencies. The enormous number of the churches of the Middle Ages sufficed. It was essentially a palace-building epoch. The châteaux on the Loire are irregular Gothic castles, with a coating of Renaissance detail (Nos. 181 and 182). 3. EXAMPLES. SECULAR ARCHITECTURE. The style may be divided up into the following periods :— The Early Renaissance (D. 1483-1589) or 16th century. The Bourbon (Classic) period (A.D. 1589-1715) or 17th century. The Decline (or Rococo) period (A.D. 1715-1774) or 18th century. A chronological review, however, of the principal buildings is given, with notes on the general development of the style. The Château de Blois (A.D. 1508), erected by Louis XII. |