Symbols of power : Napoleon and the art of the Empire style, 1800-1815
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Symbols of power : Napoleon and the art of the Empire style, 1800-1815
Abrams in association with the American Federation of Arts , Arts décoratifs, 2007
- : Abrams hardcover
Available at 3 libraries
  Aomori
  Iwate
  Miyagi
  Akita
  Yamagata
  Fukushima
  Ibaraki
  Tochigi
  Gunma
  Saitama
  Chiba
  Tokyo
  Kanagawa
  Niigata
  Toyama
  Ishikawa
  Fukui
  Yamanashi
  Nagano
  Gifu
  Shizuoka
  Aichi
  Mie
  Shiga
  Kyoto
  Osaka
  Hyogo
  Nara
  Wakayama
  Tottori
  Shimane
  Okayama
  Hiroshima
  Yamaguchi
  Tokushima
  Kagawa
  Ehime
  Kochi
  Fukuoka
  Saga
  Nagasaki
  Kumamoto
  Oita
  Miyazaki
  Kagoshima
  Okinawa
  Korea
  China
  Thailand
  United Kingdom
  Germany
  Switzerland
  France
  Belgium
  Netherlands
  Sweden
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  United States of America
Note
Catalogue of the exhibition held at St. Louis Art Museum, June 16-Sept. 16, 2007; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Oct. 21, 2007-Jan. 27, 2008; and Musée des arts décoratifs, Paris, Apr. 2-Oct. 5, 2008
Includes bibliographical references (p. [336]-341) and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
When Napoleon I first came to power in 1799 as First Consul of France, he modeled his new regime on the Roman Republic. When he was declared Emperor in 1804, the model changed from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. As part of this new government, Napoleon sponsored a program of arts that reflected his view of France as the New Rome. No ruler in the history of the world has been more aware of the capacity of symbolism to propagate power. But, despite his titanic military and political prowess, his most long-lasting and influential achievement was in the decorative arts. To glorify his regime, he encouraged French furniture-makers, silversmiths, jewelers and porcelain and textile manufacturers to produce gorgeous objects decorated with a wealth of antique motifs such as columns, arches, laurel wreathes, acanthus leaves, eagles and Egyptian hieroglyphs. Furniture, vases, porcelains and even silverware were produced in antique styles intended to project an aura of imperial majesty, featuring a rare combination of austere forms and opulent materials. This is the manner that came to be known as the Empire Style.
This is a remarkable book, which accompanies a traveling exhibition organized by the Musee des Art Decoratifs in Paris, and is comprehensive compendium of the Empire Style in all its glory. Lavishly illustrated with superb photographs, many taken expressly for this book, it will be a landmark in the library of the history of the decorative arts and an essential reference for lovers of wonderful objects everywhere.
by "Nielsen BookData"