Directoire

views updated May 14 2018

Directoire. Austere, simplified Neo-Classicism favoured during the Directoire (1795–9) in France sparingly ornamented with motifs associated with the French Revolution (e.g. Phrygian cap), and after 1798 including Egyptian elements (e.g. lotus and sphinx). Taste demanded more opulent decoration by 1800, and the following Empire style embraced more Egyptianizing detail, especially after the publication of Denon's account of Egypt and Nubia (1802). The Directoire style provided the inspiration for the American Directory style (c.1805–30) in general terms, except that the favoured motifs in the USA were those of Freemasonry. American Directory was a variant on the USA Federal style (1776–c.1830).

Bibliography

Chilvers, Osborne, & Farr (eds.), (1988);
J. Curl (2005);
Lampugnani (ed.)& Dinsmoor (1986)