Characteristics of French Renaissance Furniture:
French Renaissance
Introduction :
The French Renaissance was the cultural and
artistic movement in France between the
15th and early 17th centuries. The period is
associated with the pan-European
Renaissance, a word first used by the French
historian Jules Michelet to define the artistic
and cultural "rebirth" of Europe.
*Panels were beautifully carved with graceful figures.
*Grotesque, arabesque, rinceauand classical motifs were usual
within the period.
*Flemish scrolls were conpicuous.
*Stretchers were set-out as X form with a vase form or turned
finial placed at the intersection.
*Solidly built; with the structure of Gothic period that has been
continued to be used with Italian Renaissance ornamentation.
*Carving, inlay work, turning, gilding and painting were the
main methods of decorating
This style of French architecture had two
distinct periods. During the first period,
between about 1491 and 1540, the Italian style
was copied directly, often by Italian architects
and craftsmen. In the second period, between
1540 and the end of the Valois dynasty in 1589,
French architects and craftsmen gave the style a
more distinctive and original French character.

The major architects of the style included the

royal architects Philibert Delorme, Pierre Lescot
and Jean Bullant, as well as the Italian architect
and architectural theorist Sebastiano Serlio.
EX 1 : The Chateau de Blois

The Chateau of Blois is not only one

of the most prestigious Renaissance
monuments in France but also a
brilliant illustration of the evolution
of the French architecture from the
Middle Ages to the 17th century. It
has a great royal history from Louis
XII who built the oldest part of the
chateau to Francois I who added the
renaissance wing with the unique
open circular staircase.
EX 2 : Château de Bury

The Château de Bury is castle

near Blois (Loir-et-Cher),
France. Although ruined in the
17th century, this Renaissance
château, still dominates the
village of Bury. The building of
the Bury Castle was begun in
1511 and that it was nearly
complete by January 1515; it
can thus no longer be
considered to be an imitation of
the Francis I wing of the 
Château of Blois.
EX 3 : The Louvre, Paris
EX 3 : The Louvre, Paris
Architectural Gothic (remains preserved
style underground)
 French Renaissance, 
Louis XIII style, 
French Baroque,
 Neoclassical,
 Neo-Baroque 
 Napoleon III Style,
 Modernism (Pyramid)
 Church Architecture
The Renaissance had less influence
on French religious architecture;
cathedrals and churches, for the most
part, continued to be built or rebuilt
in the Flamboyant Gothic style.
However, a few classical elements
introduced during the Renaissance
appeared in churches. Examples Plan
include the classical portals of the
churches of Saint-Germain
l'Auxerrois, directly across from the
new Lescot Wing of the Louvre, and
Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs in Paris.

Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois

Chapel window with scenes of life of Christ.

• One of the finest religious monuments of the
French Renaissance is the tomb of François I
and his wife Claude de France, located within
the Basilica of Saint Denis (1547–1561). The
principal element is a triumphal arch, modeled
after the Arch of Septimius Severus in Rome,
crowned with four statues of fame, as well as
the King and Queen. The vault of the arch and
the entablement are richly decorated with
sculptural decoration of olive leaves and other
Tomb of Francis I and Claude de France
classical themes, and with tablets of black and
white marble. The tall, slender columns give
the tomb an exceptional lightness and grace.

Basilica of Saint-Denis
 EX 4 : The Pantheon Paris
Exterior dome (The final plan of the dome was accepted in 1777, and it was completed in 1790

1-exterior Peristyle
he facade and peristyle on the east side, modeled after a Greek temple, features Corinthian columns
and pedimental sculpture by David d'Angers, completed in 1837. The sculpture on this pediment,
replacing an early pediment with religious themes, represents "The Nation distributing crowns handed
to her by Liberty to great men, civil and military, while history inscribes their names". To the left are
figures of distinguished scientists, philosophers, and statesmen,
2- plan
3- Interior

LIGHT WAS COMING FROM THE UPPER 3D DOME AND FROM THE
SECOND FLOOR ALSO THE BUILDING MADE WITH STEEL
crypt
Tombs of Victor Hugo (left), Alexandre Dumas (center), and Emile Zola (right)
Tomb of Louis Braille
EX 5 : The Madeleine, Paris

interior
the portico of La Madeleine has eight columns
rather than six. These Roman Corinthian
columns ,there are fifty-two of them in all , rise
up to twenty meters and encompass the entire
structure
 exterior
Standing in the narthex (porch) of the church, we look up to see a
coffered barrel vault. Above the door is the famous pipe organ.
There are large domes above that support the walls, which are
decorated to match with the interior, just like the pantheon. At
the north end is the semi-dome of the apse. Above it, in the
cupola of the choir, is Ziegler’s mural entitled The History of
Christianity.
 Prepared by :
Adnan Mohammed
Kawdan Mohammed
Mohammed Abdulsalam
Dirhat Masud
Fuad Dilkhaz
Amad Waad
Sahand Shakir
Siver Imad