Empire (style)
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The Empire Style, sometimes considered as the second phase of Neoclassicism, with its early phase called Directoire, is an early 19th century style of architecture and furniture design that takes its name and originates from Napoleon's rule of France, known as the First French Empire, when such grandiose Neoclassical structures as the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Vendome Column, and La Madeleine were built in Paris to emulate the famous edifices of Imperial Rome.
In the wake of Napoleon's downfall, the style was adopted in many other countries of Europe, particularly in Imperial Russia, where it was used to celebrate the victory over Napoleon in such memorial structures as the Russian Admiralty, Kazan Cathedral, Alexander Column, and Narva Gate. The Stalinist architecture is sometimes referred to as Stalin's Empire style.
The style survived in Italy longer than in most of Europe, partly because of its Imperial Roman associations, partly because it was revived as a national style of architecture following the unification of Italy in 1870. Mario Praz wrote about this style as the Italian Empire.
In the United Kingdom, United States, and Germany the Empire style was adapted to local conditions and gradually took the form of the Egyptian Revival, Greek Revival, Biedermeier style, and Regency style.
See also
| Revival styles in 19th-century architecture | |
|---|---|
| Neo-Classicism: | Directoire and Empire • Regency • Egyptian Revival • Greek Revival and Neo-Grec |
| Neo-Romanesque and Byzantine Revival: | Richardsonian Romanesque • Russo-Byzantine • Muscovite Revival |
| Gothic Revival: | Scottish Baronial • Tudorbethan • Muscovite Gothic • Moorish Revival • Indo-Saracenic |
| Neo-Renaissance: | Italianate • Second Empire • Chateauesque • Jacobethan |
| Neo-Baroque and 18th century: | Beaux-Arts • Wrenaissance • Queen Anne • Georgian Revival • Colonial Revival |
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