Question

Explain the difference between furniture from the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV. What caused this change to come about?

a) Louis XIV furniture was minimalistic, while Louis XV furniture was extravagant. The change was due to economic hardship.
b) Louis XIV furniture was made of metal, while Louis XV furniture was made of wood. The change was due to a shortage of metal.
c) Louis XIV furniture was ornate and heavy, while Louis XV furniture was more delicate and Rococo in style. The change was due to a shift in artistic preferences.
d) Louis XIV furniture had no legs, while Louis XV furniture had long, slender legs. The change was due to a need for more stability.

Answer 1

Louis XIV furniture was ornate and symbolized the monarchy's power, while Louis XV furniture adopted a lighter, Rococo style due to a cultural shift towards the aristocracy's comfort and artistic preferences in Paris.

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference between furniture from the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV is principally in their styles and the associated cultural movements. Louis XIV furniture is known for its ornate and heavy design, featuring richly woven fabrics, gilded plaster molding, and heavy marbling - all reflective of the Baroque era's grandeur and formality, and it was utilized to demonstrate the absolute power of the Sun King. In contrast, Louis XV furniture is more delicate, featuring lighter, pastel colors, curvaceous lines, and Rococo styling with a predisposition toward lighthearted frivolity and comfort.

This shift in style from the classical and majestic to the more romantic and ornate was due to a change in artistic preferences as the focus moved from glorifying the monarchy (at the centralized location of Versailles) to accommodating the more intimate and social settings of the aristocracy in Paris.