Recueil de Decorations Intérieures 1812

Pierre François Léonard Fontaine made this print, "Recueil de Decorations Intérieures," in France, at a time when the decorative arts were being used to consolidate political power. Fontaine was one of the architects of Napoleon, and his work illustrates the Empire style – a mode of design that consciously mimicked the forms of ancient Rome in order to associate Napoleon with the power of the Caesars. Note the cool austerity of the lines, and the way the design is peppered with busts of Roman emperors and trophies of war. Every aspect of the design is intended to remind us of Napoleon’s authority. Even the artists are depicted as subservient to the state: note how they are literally framed by the imperial imagery! Art historians use surviving buildings, plans, and documents, to understand the way art and architecture have served the ambitions of rulers and states. The meaning of a work of art always depends on its social and institutional context.