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Article: Seventeenth-century decorative arts. (Report from Europe).(Grand Palais' A Time of Exuberance: The Decorative Arts under Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, 1610-1660 exhibition)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- The Magazine Antiques
- Article date:
- April 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Brant Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Renaissance was in full flood in France in the seventeenth century. The foundations were laid during the regency of Louis XIII, who became king in 1610 at the age of eight following the assassination of his father, Henry IV. The regent was Louis's mother, Marie de Medicis, who married him to Anne of Austria and elevated Cardinal Richelieu to great power--both decisions of importance for the future.
While Richelieu was a champion of French literary endeavors, Louis and Anne were great patrons of the visual and decorative arts. An example of the royal couple's initiative was the modest hunting lodge near Paris begun in 1623 and extended and embellished later in ...