The French Renaissance was made of various different styles, many which were a result of the style before it. The Rococo style, which took place form 1730-1760, followed the Regency style. It took place during Louis XV's reign and the beginning of Louis XVI's reign. Unprecedented economic growth and urbanization helped make the art of this time prevalent to all people.
The town mansions in Paris were known as hotels and had a strip of construction along the street that opened into a courtyard leading to the main part of the home. The homes started to become more private and comfortable featuring many halls, corridors, and secret rooms. The Salon was the center of all activity and hostesses competed to entertain the most important and prominent guests. The rooms took on a feminine feel with rounded corners, light and airy colors, fireplaces with marble frames, and frames pictures on the walls.
Furniture was important during this time and teams of workers that belonged to a certain guild were being formed. Pattern books also became popular allowing for the guilds to copy designs. For the first time, the common people, not monarchs, were creating the designs. Merchants were the key motivators of the furniture styles. The furniture took on a 3D appearance and was scaled to fit the body. It also retained the intimate style and cabriole leg. Popular furniture pieces from this time included the Tete-a-tete chair and the Bureau de Roi which was similar to a roll-top desk.
This style remains popular and can still be seen influencing spaces and rooms in design today.
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