The Empire Style originated in Paris, France under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte in the early
nineteenth century. It appeared in architecture, furniture, and the visual arts, flourishing between
1800 and 1815 during the Consulate and the First French Empire. From France, it spread into
Europe and America. The Empire Style was encouraged by Napoleon's desire for a style inspired
by ancient Egypt and imperial Rome. All of the arts served to promote his regime.
Revolutionary conquests were depicted with this fine art, showing fame and victory, severe while
elegant. Napoleon worked hard to earn his place as emperor of France without being a monarch,
using art to enforce his place as leader of France, despite not having any royal connections. Art also was used to support his role as a
great conqueror of much of Europe during the Napoleonic Wars. For over a decade Europe was at war due to Napoleon's military
ambition. The wars helped spur the imagination of poets, painters, and philosophers and Napoleon commissioned many of them to
embellish his rule.
nineteenth century. It appeared in architecture, furniture, and the visual arts, flourishing between
1800 and 1815 during the Consulate and the First French Empire. From France, it spread into
Europe and America. The Empire Style was encouraged by Napoleon's desire for a style inspired
by ancient Egypt and imperial Rome. All of the arts served to promote his regime.
Revolutionary conquests were depicted with this fine art, showing fame and victory, severe while
elegant. Napoleon worked hard to earn his place as emperor of France without being a monarch,
using art to enforce his place as leader of France, despite not having any royal connections. Art also was used to support his role as a
great conqueror of much of Europe during the Napoleonic Wars. For over a decade Europe was at war due to Napoleon's military
ambition. The wars helped spur the imagination of poets, painters, and philosophers and Napoleon commissioned many of them to
embellish his rule.