Regence

From 1715 to 1725.

At the death of Louis XIV, the future Louis XV, was only 5 years old. Louis XIV's brother, Philippe, the Duc of Orleans became Regent and a wind of renewal and change swept through France, bringing a freedom of expression and artistic creativity after years of classicism and formality.

According to Princess Palatine, the Regent loves the arts, particularly painting. He nominated  Antoine Coypel as his primary Historical painting master. Other great painters of the time were Antoine Watteau, Nicolas Lancret and Jean-Baptiste Pater.

Versailles and the court remained the center of activity, but Paris took on the role of leader in the arts, especially through the great literary salons lead by prominent women. Powerful aristocratic and bourgeois families built sumptuous townhouses, that welcomed intellectuals, philosophers, writers and artists. The theme of love was very central, as well as galantery, education and wit. Games and Commedia dell’arte were popular.

These new houses were built for a new kind of life style, with smaller rooms and decorations that focused on lightness, color and warmth.

In the decorative arts what is refered to as the Regence style begins around 1700-1710 and continued until 1730. The grandiose characteristics of the Louis XIV style gave way to a lighter mood but preserved the idea of symmetry. Famous ornementalists of the days were Oppenordt, Nicolas Pineau, Meissonnier and Jean Bérain.

 

The Regence style is an evolution of the Louis XIV style furniture mixeing conservative elements with softer innovative ones and introducing curved volumes. Among the many motifs: square and diamond shaped lattice work, the palmette and the scalloped shell in association with other ornaments inspired by nature that topped mirrors and wood paneling or adorned furniture. Exotic motifs like monkeys or pagodas also were in vogue. Charles Cressent was one of the most representative cabinet markers of the period, introducing curves and scrolls in his creations, which he adorned with spendid bronzes such as the famous espagnolettes inspired by Watteau.

 

• Photo: The Shop-sign Gersaint, Watteau, 1720, Berlin, Staatliche Museen.Watteau painted this large painting in a few days for his friend the dealer Edmé-François Gersaint, whose art gallery was on the Notre-Dame bridge in Paris. The scene presented here is an art gallery where the facade has magically vanished. On the walls and in the boxes the paintings are typical of the taste of the 1720’s: 16th century Italian and 17th century Flemish. An extraordinary and rare everyday scene with the ladies wearing Watteau dresses. Notice the frames crowned with the Regence shell. This was Watteau’s final painting before his death.