Style Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI are all very popular styles for those who like to decorate their home in a classical way, or add some classical pieces to their more contemporary home. To know which style is which Louis can be quite confusing, even more when history was not your favorite subject in school with to many wars, dates and marriages to remember.
legs via Pinterest - Marie Antoinette as Dauphin of France by Francois Hubert Drouais
When we think of the three last kings of France we go back to the 17th and 18th century. France was on the height of it’s power with Louis XIV, the “sun king”. He reigned from mid 17th century till the beginning of the 18th century and was one of the most powerful French monarch. France was the leading power of Europe during his reign. For him France was the center of the world and he saw himself as a half-god. France got more and more colonies in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Chateau de Versailles via The Imperial Court - Louis XIV via Google -
Louis XIV would also start the big works to create the Palace of Versailles as we know it now. It all started with Louis XIII who bought some land and build a hunting lodge. Later he asked the architect Philibert Le Roy to build a château of brick and stone with classical pilasters. Louis XIV decided to rebuild en enlarge the château. The first expansion was designed by Louis Le Vau and he commissioned the landscape designer André Le Notre to create the garden. Fountains, basins, canals and statues would make it the the most magnificent gardens in Europe.
drawings legs Louis XIV Justin Storck - armchair via Osenat - medaillon Louis XIV Christies - table top Andre Boulle via Antique Clock Guy
This was the time of the baroque and Louis XIV wanted to show his power. The trade with the Far East was flourishing and he would important exotic woods, precious and semi-precious stone which he would use for the inlay work and marqueterie of furniture pieces. Baroque is a very monumental style, to show power and grandeur. A lot of details and often over decorated. Elaborated marqueterie, heavily sculpted legs for the chairs and tables. When you see the X or H between the legs of a chair you can be sure it is in Louis XIV style.
With Louis XV we are mid of the 18th century and Rococo, also called sometimes late Baroque, was the style of that period. Rocaille style, was originally a method of decoration. They would use pebbles and seashells to decorate fountain since the Renaissance period. It is a very ornamental style, more asymmetric than the Baroque with a lots of curves. Later the rocaille became the term for the typical decorative motif or ornament in the form of a seashell interlaced with acanthus leaves When the color use during the Baroque was quite dark the Rococo would use more white and pastel colors. The interior design would be influenced by the trade with the Far East and the Chinoiserie became very trendy in this period.
Louis Xv room and detail of the room The Met- drawings legs Louis XV Justin Storck - armchair Christies
Typical for the Rococo style are the asymmetrical shells, acanthus and other leaves,, bouquets of flowers, birds. The Far East inspired them too to use dragons, monkeys and even Chinese personnages. Molded stucco, painted ceiling, wood carving to embellish every room. They wanted to impress by using marble tops for the furniture, ornaments in gilded bronze. They would use oak, beach or walnut. The wood would often be painted, or lacquered in the Japanese style.
When you will see a Louis XV style table or chaire you will recognize the S or cabriole leg. While the back rest during Louis XIV was quite straight this would be more inclined to the back during Louis XV. The armrest would not continue down in the front legs. The back would also be more rounded. For the living area they would have a set for summer and one for winter.
Petite Trianon via Flickr - gardens of Chateau de Versailles via Goodieline - medaillon Louis XVI The Met - Marie-Antoinette via Instagram
Louis XVI would reign the second half of the 18th century. There would be a financial crisis leading to the revolution, On You Tube there is a very good documentary: “The Rise and Fall of Versailles”, giving a good idea of the time of each Louis. Louis XVI would marry Marie-Antoinette who wanted to decorate her own apartment. Even when there was no budget she would still commission smell pieces of furniture. For the furniture makers it was a glorious period as the nobility would follow her and redecorate their homes.
private apartmetn Marie-Antoinette via Tatiana’s Tearoom - drawings legs Louis XVI style Justin Storck - door handle Vervloet - detail armchair Christies - library Marien Antoinette via Pinterest - medaillon Louis XV The Met
The lines will get straight, less curves, they got inspired by the excavations in Pompeii and Neo-Classicism would be the style of the end of the 18th century, continuing into the early 19th century. A style based on the principles of simplicity and symmetry. Inspiration came from ancient architecture.
The legs would be straight, fluted and the armrest would be again in line with the front legs, which makes that the backrest would come back straight. Pastel colors, gilded wood would be the style.
Take a look at Marie-Antoinette, the movie directed by Sophia Coppola, to get a look on history with a rock-and-roll twist.
Parisian apartment via Elle Decor - ceiling via Instagram - dining via Glam Decoor
It is much easier to decorate a classical Parisian style apartment with modern furniture than the other way around. The result will be stylish and elegant. The use of a lot of very light colors in combination with dark wood will make it look very contemporary. A crystall chandelier and gilded classical mirror will give it grandeur.
Louis XVI style chandelier 1stDibs - Louis XIV style mirror 1stDibs - Louis XV style chest of drawers Moissonnier - dining area via Macer Home
You will move into a modern apartment or house, than you should take care as it is mich more difficult to turn that in a classical interior. Keep it simple and add some classical pieces such as chest of drawers, a more ornamental mirror or classical chandelier.
so how to recognize the different styles
Louis XIV: Baroque - dark colors - marqueterie - exotic woods - lot of details - X or H leg
Louis XV: Rococo - pastel colors - seashell interlaced with leaves - S or cabriole leg
Louis XVI: Neo-Classism - pastel colors - straight lines, small pieces of furniture
Which Louis is you favorite? How would you use it in your home?
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