Empire Style: The Hôtel de Beauharnais in Paris

by Jorg Ebeling, Ulrich Leben, Francis Hammond (Photographer)

This monograph dedicated to the most spectacular example of Parisian First Empire interior architecture retraces the history of the building and the lives of its residents. The Hôtel de Beauharnais, constructed in 1713, gained renown during the Consulate period. In 1803, Josephine Bonaparte acquired the property for her son, Eugène de Beauharnais, and had the building renovated and decorated at great expense. At the fall of the Napoleonic Empire, it was sold to the King of Prussia and became an embassy during the nineteenth century. With its unique Consulate and Empire decor, the palace is an invaluable specimen of Parisian interior architecture. The result of more than ten years of research and restoration work, this book recounts three centuries of European political history through the lives of the Hôtel’s successive owners.

348 pages, Hardcover

Published November 22, 2016

Reviews

[Anna Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

[I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review; full review originally posted at http://vivelaqueen.blogspot.com/2017/...]

Empire Style: The Hôtel de Beauharnais in Paris by Jörg Ebeling and Ulrich Leben, featuring photography by Francis Hammond, is one of the newest historical offerings from Flammarion to focus on the history and style of a historical French estate. ...

The photographs, paintings, illustrations and other artwork featured throughout the book are reproduced in excellent quality. The new photographs by Francis Hammond are a joy to look at and allow a detailed, personal view of many of the Hôtel's grandest rooms. Other photographs include historical photos taken during the Hôtel's long history, both of former residents and the building itself; one memorable photo shows the shocking condition of the Music Room in 1965, just one of the rooms in "alarming condition" by that time!

The book itself is a large coffee-table size, which is ideal for catching the many details in the drawings, paintings, and stellar photography featuring throughout the book. The extensive text provides an interesting insight into the history of the building, its multiple renovations and subsequent restorations, as well as context for the building's status as a residence for Prussian and then German ambassadors.

I highly recommend Empire Style for anyone with an interest in French history, the French Empire, historical French buildings and French architecture, as well as the history of French-German relations. It is well-written, supplemented with excellent photographs and artwork, and provides a detailed look into one of France's architectural jewels.