OF DECORATIVE

CHAPTER 24
THE RENAISSANCE MOVEMENT

Those decorative movements will be considered here that have
had the most effect on European and American furnishings. The
oldest influence, but an unimportant one, is the ancient Egyptian,
which goes back to 4000 B.C. Tomb excavations and mural paint-
ings have revealed. beautiful, well-made furniture decorated with
motifs of lotus, palms, swans, animals, and the sun.

The most important decorative influence that the world'has
known is the Classic style which originated in Greece and reached
its height there during the fifth century B.C. This style is the basis
for the traditional architecture and decoration of western Europe.
The Greeks sought to express divinity through beauty and suc-
ceeded in creating the finest sculpture and architecture of all time.
Their decorative arts, including their furniture and pottery, were
also beautiful in form and ornamentation. The Classic style was
continued in the Roman Empire, which conquered Greece in the
second century B.C. and endured until A.D. 500.

During the Middle Ages (the Dark Ages), Byzantine, Oriental,
and Romanesque influences existed but were far less important
than the Gothic style, which culminated in the magnificent cathe-
drals of France and spread all over Europe. The Gothic castles
were sparsely furnished with large oak furniture and tapestries.

Between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries inclusive three
great decorative movements spread over Europe, Since all are
based on the Classic styles of Greece and Rome some writers con-
sider them all Renaissance, but in this book the Baroque, Rococo,
and Neo~Classic styles are treated separately. Each movement is
considered in its international aspects.

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