French Renaissance

French Renaissance is a term used to describe a cultural and artistic movement in France from the late 15th century to the early 17th century. The French Renaissance (roughly) extends from the French invasion of Italy in 1494 during the reign of Charles VIII to the reign of Henry IV in 1610. The reigns of Francis I of France (from 1515 to 1547), his son Henry II (from 1547 to 1559) and Louis XIII Style (1589-1643) are generally considered the apex periods of the French Renaissance. Notable developments during the French Renaissance include; the beginning of the absolutism in France, the spread of humanism; early exploration of the "New World" (as by Giovanni da Verrazano and Jacques Cartier); the importing (from Italy, Burgundy and elsewhere) and development of new techniques and artistic forms in the fields of printing, architecture, painting, sculpture, music, the sciences and vernacular literature; and the elaboration of new codes of sociability, etiquette and discourse.

Architecture
Types of public and private buildings include the Chateau, churches, hotels, and public buildings. Henry IV institutes Italian urban planning concepts in Paris. French squares are frameworks for private houses. Chateaus, as country houses, are sited within natural landscapes featuring long vistas; many are located on high hills and/or along rivers. Exteriors of chateaux exhibit symmetry, an Italian bay system, windows placed directly over one another, and horizontal emphasis from cornices and sting courses.

Chateau de S. Agil

Palais de Fontainebleau

Palace of Versailles

Churches continue the Latin cross plan. The plan at Chambord develops as a fortified rectangular compound with a central courtyard and corner turrets. In it, the main building has a Greek cross and introduces the apartment, which is a suite of rooms consisting of antechamber, chamber, and cabinet. The apartment and salon characterize French domestic architecture for the next 200 years. Stone is the most preferred building material followed by brick. Roofs are usually of slate. Vernacular buildings commonly adopt briquette entre Poteau constr uction or pierrotage

Interiors
The first French Renaissance interiors were created at Fontainebleau in the 1530s by Italian artists Rosso Fiorentino and Francesco Primaticcio. Characteristics include slender nymphs with clinging drapery, garlands, scrolls and strap work. There were not heavily followed; interiors continue to feature Gothic and classical elements.
Galeire de Francois I, Palais de Fontainebleau-

Galeire de Francois I, Palais de Fontainebleau

Doors, windows, and stairways are important features of French renaissance interiors.

Large and prominent chimneypieces are also the focal points of this period. It does not have classical proportions, but entablatures, pilasters, and columns shapes the overall design. In the Interiors the Decoration is generally concentrated on the floor, walls, and ceiling of a room. Very few furnishings were used in interiors. The ceilings were generally Beamed embellished with carving or with brightly colored stripes, arabesques, or other repeated motifs. Plastered ceilings were usually plain.

Characteristics of French Renaissance Furniture:

Escabelle

Same as sgabello.

Caquetoire Mostly used by women, scaled lightly wooden chair with a tail, narrow paneled back attached to a trapezoid seat. Armoire Wardrobe cabinet that is movable

Commode Chest of drawers.