Prior to the 17th century, Italy had the most vibrant creative community. However, after Louis XIV assumed power in France, this situation altered. He strongly supported music and art during his rule, which helped France overtake Italy as the center of the arts. Everyone in Europe strived to live like Louis XIV in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. He had pioneered the practice of supporting an opulent lifestyle. The Versailles was renovated, and courts were established there, which increased French culture's fame and success. French architectural, artistic, and interior design influences were widely adopted in Europe and Russia. Notably, the modern era is still highly influenced by French artistic culture which is evident in modern-day architectural designs and interior designs.
The landscape architecture is a major example of designs derived or assimilated from the French culture. This design entails systematic investigation of the existing ecological, social and soil condition as well as a process in a given landscape. It incorporates the aspects of horticulture, botany, fine arts, industrial design, environmental psychology, ecology, and geography and soil sciences. Activities of the landscape architects could be: creating parkways or public parks, site planning for the corporate office and campus parks and residential estate designs. The underlying ideologies and reasons of this model are derived from the French culture of developing gardens (Spawforth 45). According to the French culture, there was a close relationship between the parks and the royal palace. The park was designed to serve celebratory or ceremonial requirements of the leaders. It consisted of ideal and natural backdrops for the festivities. There are various examples of building and parks that utilized the landscape architectural design in the modern world. A major example is Russia which has developed a new Pathless Park in Moscow. Apart from that, Denmark has the Kings Garden Pavilion. Additionally, there is the Vanke Park Mansion in China.
The modern-day interior decoration and design were heavily borrowed from the French Culture. The interior decoration and design work of the Versailles was described as a legendary with respect to its expense, quality, and range. It was made up of furnishings, furniture ceramic art, and tapestry art as well as bronze sculptures. It’s Hall of Mirrors and salons had lavish exhibitions of gueridons, table pieces, and furniture. Despite the factor, the initial interior designs by in the French have been replaced by advanced designs in the modern day, there is evidence of French ideologies in the designs used in decoration. The significant designs in modern day that exhibit various models of the French culture include vast staterooms that are dressed in white and olive which show a strong influence by baroque designs related to Louis XIV. Interior designers also use complicated scrollwork that mainly done in a silver color. The use of a silver color is highly influenced by Louis XIV who had a great passion for silver hence had most of his furniture from the metal.
In designing of sofas, modern interior designers have created large sofas that enhance visitors have a view of the sophisticated environment from a particular angle. Such sofas are referred to as Gallery Sofas or Boudeuse (DeJean 78). The design is borrowed the Versailles designs that enabled visitors to appreciate and observe the paintings and other artworks in Louis XIV’s palace. Additionally, designers have also focused on creating rounded furniture which is a vivid indication of Louis XVI period. They include the oval chairs that are thick and have an ornamentation that makes them unique compared to most designs in the market.
Apart from that, interior designers have also provided that in developing a luxurious home, one has to incorporate the modern and neoclassical designs. The use of the streamlined aesthetics is a highly related to Louis XVI. This entails designing of furniture with fluted legs; mainly on side tables and sideboards. The chairs and sofas provide a luxurious feeling.
The French culture has also had a significant impact on the modern day art. The manner in which artist performs as well as how they dress also depicts various practices is derived from the French culture. Louis XIV is described to have preferred arts to politics. He opened up a great opportunity for artists. He ensured that his place was not only meant to dwell in but could also be entertaining and luxurious (Prina 101). He pioneered the use of various artwork in designing buildings which have been adapted to the modern day. The use of sculptures and paintings is undeniably evident in most luxurious and state building in the United States. His influence on music performance by introducing dances or visual performance is also still apparent in the present day as well as using specific costumes during performances.
In conclusion, it is vivid that the French culture has contributed much to modern day art, architectural designs as well as interior designing. The modern generation still heavily relies on the French ideologies in creating luxurious homes, interior designs and parks. Therefore, it is undeniable that the current generation does borrow most of its models and architectural doctrines in developing luxurious houses and palaces.
Works Cited
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Spawforth, Antony. Versailles: A Biography of a Palace. , 2010. Internet resource.
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DeJean, Joan E. The Age of Comfort: When Paris Discovered Casual-and the Modern Home Began. New York: Bloomsbury, 2009. Internet resource.
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Prina, Francesca, and Elena Demartini. 1000 Years of World Architecture: : an Illustrated Guide. London: Thames & Hudson, 2006. Print.
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