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Theory Of Decoration

As early as 1450 several of the greatest artists were already under the influence of the art of Italy. The interest in classic forms received a great impetus after the conquest of Naples hy Charles VIII (1495) followed by the defeat of the Milanese hy Louis XII a few years later. Charles V11I brought back to France, not only works of art, but many artists and, under Louis XII a great immigration of Italian artists commenced, attracted by the immense sums offered by the French nobility. This movement culminated under Francis I who induced both Leonardo da Vinci in 1516 and Cellini in 1537 to work at the Court of France.

To the reign of Francis I (1515-1547) are ascribed the true beginnings of the Renaissance arts in France. Certainly there is due to Francis, more than to any of his immediate predecessors, the direct encouragement and support of the artists. Although the absolute power of the throne had considerably increased under Francis, he had been less successful in his military ventures. In 1525 he had been defeated by Charles V in Italy and was held prisoner in Pavia from whence he had written home to his mother, "All is lost save honor." lie had had ample opportunity to observe the fruits of the great Cinquecento, and after his return, his greatest ambition was to make his reign notable for the glories of art rather than for military splendor. Francis was contemporaneous with Henry VIII of England as well as Charles V of Spain. National pride and personal jealousy in each of these countries aided the demand for novelty which could only be satisfied by drawing upon the arts of southern Europe.

The divisions of the development of the Renaissance in France are usually designated by the names of the reigning monarchs, although the dates are chiefly approximate, and much overlapping occurs.