The first monthly post of my blog on Design History.....from buildings and places to furniture and paintings....and whatever else strikes my fancy. Post #1: The Chateau of Chenonceau, circa 1515. Reflected in the waters of the River Cher, in the heart of the Loire Valley, Chenonceau is a jewel of the French Renaissance and a place always dominated by the presence of great ladies. The towers are Medieval but the perfect proportions, symmetrical facades and classical pilasters framing windows and doors reveal the influence of Italian Renaissance architectural theory and decoration. The financier Thomas Bohiers began the present chateau with monies provided by his marriage to the heiress Catherine Briconnet. King Henry II acquired Chenonceau and gave it to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers who added a moated garden and a bridge connecting the chateau to the other side of the river. Upon his death, the Queen, Catherine de Medici, forced the mistress out of Chenonceau, added a brilliant gallery on the bridge and staged lavish parties. The Queens widowed daughter-in-law, Louise de Lorraine, inherited the chateau and wandered its halls and gardens as a recluse in mourning for her husband. Beauty, happiness, jealousy, treachery and sadness all shared equal space in this most beautiful place. Look for more about this architectural masterpiece in my upcoming novel, due out in May 2015.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 06:43:01 +0000