Directoire style (French pronunciation:[diʁɛktwaʁ]ⓘ) was a period in the decorative arts, fashion, and especially furniture design in France concurrent with theDirectory (November 2, 1795–November 10, 1799), the later part of theFrench Revolution. The style usesNeoclassical architectural forms, minimal carving, planar expanses of highly grained veneers, and applied decorative painting. It is a style transitional betweenLouis XVI andEmpire.
The Directoire style was primarily established by the architects and designersCharles Percier (1764–1838) andPier François Léonard Fontaine (1762–1853). In its use of Neoclassical architectural form and decorative motifs the style anticipates the slightly later and more elaborateEmpire style, which was introduced afterNapoleon established theFirst French Empire.
The Directoire style reflected the Revolutionary belief in the values ofrepublican Rome:
"Thestoic virtues of Republican Rome were upheld as standards not merely for the arts but also for political behaviour and private morality.Conventionels saw themselves as antique heroes. Children were named afterBrutus,Solon andLycurgus. The festivals of the Revolution were staged byJacques-Louis David as antique rituals. Even the chairs in which the committee ofSalut Publique sat were made on antique models devised by David.... In fact Neo-classicism became fashionable".[1]
The sources of inspiration areEtruscan,Roman andLouis XVI style. The main decorativemotifs are: classical vases, carvedurns, arrows,winged lions, dragons, mermaids, female busts andsphinxes.[2]
