Chris has a master's degree in history and teaches at the University of Northern Colorado.
If there's one thing we know about French culture, it's that style matters. So, obviously if there's going to be a French Empire, it's got to look good. Napoleon firmly believed that a successful empire was an aesthetically pleasing empire, and he put great efforts into helping to coordinate a national aesthetic during his reign - to the point that he personally visited textile and furniture makers across France. The result was the Empire Style, which is traditionally dated to the same years as Napoleon's reign as emperor (1804-1815).
France's Empire Style was predominantly focused on furniture and interior design. There was never a codified Empire Style of architecture, although we can see the foundations of one being established in this time. Still, Napoleon had a distinct vision for France. He wanted it to be powerful, he wanted it to be respected, and he wanted it to be darn good looking.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
To understand how the Empire Style impacted French architecture, we first need a little background on this movement. In the mid-late 18th century, the United States completed its revolution and became independent. Building their new republic on the model of the Roman Republic, they ushered in a massive revival of neoclassical (Greek- and Roman-inspired) architecture. In the late 18th century, France went through its own revolution, and the Neoclassical fervor spread through this nation as well.
Napoleon rose to power out of the chaos of the French Revolution. He worked his way into leadership, and was named First Consul (the title of the leader of the Roman Republic). In 1802, this was amended to First Consul for Life (the strategy used by Julius Caesar to maintain power). In this time, Napoleon leaned heavily on neoclassical art in his personal estate to imitate a good Roman consul. Finally, Napoleon had himself crowned emperor in 1804. This meant that it was time for a new aesthetic. The French Empire Style was still neoclassical in character, but no longer drew from the Roman Republic. It now drew from the Roman Empire.
In furniture and interior design, the French Empire Style was dominated by motifs of empire. Many of these were repurposed Roman imperial themes, like eagles, laurels, urns, and columns. Others motifs were directly relevant to France's empire, most notably Egyptian hieroglyphics and symbols that reminded people of Napoleon's victories in Egypt.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
While there was never a fully unified Empire Style of architecture, the attitudes, motifs, and symbolism of the Empire Style did take part in Napoleon's early efforts at transforming Paris. Had he stayed in power longer, he may have unified the style. He didn't, however, and so we're left with several relatively minor Empire-esque additions, as well as four very prominent examples of Napoleon's ultimate vision.
The most famous architectural success of the French Empire Style is easily the triumphal arch. In the Roman Empire, emperors would build monumental arches to celebrate their victories and honor the troops. A Roman victory was not complete until the army marched through the triumphal arch.
 |
In 1806, Napoleon commissioned a triumphal arch of his own to celebrate the early victories of his empire and to honor his troops. While it would not be completed by the time of his defeat and exile, the Arc de Triomphe of Paris ended up 164 feet tall, 148 feet long, and 72 feet wide. It was modeled on the Arch of Titus (built by the 1st century Roman emperor), and was complete with reliefs of Napoleon in a toga, being crowned by the allegorical figure of Victory (a Roman tradition).
This Arc de Triomphe is the most famous, but it actually wasn't the only one Napoleon commissioned. An arch was also commissioned in 1806 to honor Napoleon's troops and his military victories in 1805. This is the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, and since it's smaller, it was actually finished during Napoleon's reign. Its proportions directly reflect the Roman Arch of Septimius Severus, and it features reliefs of battles in Napoleon's campaign.
Not all Roman emperors exclusively celebrated victory with a triumphal arch. Some also built triumphal columns, towers that recorded the events of the campaign (most notable are the columns of Marcus Aurelius and Trajan). Well, obviously Napoleon had to have one of these, too. The Vendôme Column is an Empire Style triumphal arch covered entirely in bronze reliefs of Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz. It originally held a bronze statue of Napoleon as a Roman emperor on top, again accompanied by a winged Victory.
 |
Finally, if you're going to transform your imperial capital into a new Rome, you've got to have a Roman temple. In 1806, Napoleon commissioned Madeleine, a structure directly modeled on Roman temples in France (most notably the Maison Carrée - a 1st-century Roman temple in Nimes). Like the Maison Carée, Madeleine was surrounded with Corinthian columns and features a dominant, relief-filled pediment. It was originally meant as another monument to Napoleon's soldiers in the Grande Armée, but was later turned into a Catholic Church following Napoleon's defeat.
 |
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
The Empire Style was a neoclassical movement under Napoleon (1804-1815), in which the French emperor tried to standardize an imperial aesthetic. It was mostly relegated to furniture and interior design, but was beginning to make its way into architecture. The most notable structural pieces of the Empire Style are not true buildings but massive monuments to Napoleon's imperial victories, based on Roman imperial precedents. Most famous is the Arc de Triomphe, a larger version of Roman triumphal arch. Napoleon commissioned the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel as well. He also built a triumphal column, the Vendôme Column and a triumphal temple, Madeleine. With these structures, Napoleon hoped to transform Paris into a true imperial capital, based on the precedents of Europe's first great empire.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
Back
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
