Furniture Design 1565 - 1570

Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau created this design for furniture in ink on paper in the mid-16th century. This drawing provides a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural values of Renaissance France. The elaborate ornamentation, classical motifs, and allegorical figures reflect a society that prized elegance, learning, and the grandeur of the past. The image creates meaning through visual codes of classical architecture, suggesting the patron was cultured. Consider the influence of the French court and its patronage of the arts, as well as the role of furniture in conveying status and wealth. We see the design of the furniture itself with pillars, mythological scenes, and classical figures to show not only wealth but also the 'good taste' of the furniture's owner. Historians look to sources, such as period documents and comparative analyses of surviving furniture, to understand the design. This helps to reconstruct the values and beliefs of the people who commissioned and used these objects.