114 RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE IN FRANCE. 



queen, with whose life in France the period almost exactly coin- 

 cides. Catharine de' Medici was married in 1533 and died in 1589, 

 and, from the moment that she had the opportunity, till old age 

 and straitened circumstances checked her, she was an assiduous 

 builder. 



In the stage of architectural development, which forms the subject 

 of this chapter, there are three sub periods, two of great activity, and 

 one of relative stagnation, and again the establishment and culmination 

 of a style of considerable restraint and refinement were succeeded by 

 its decline into coarseness and licence. It would be convenient for 

 the historian if these two sets of subdivisions exactly coincided ; if 

 the purer classicism could all be assigned to the comparatively tranquil 

 and artistically more fertile era of Francis I.'s latter years and Henry II. 's 

 reign, the coarseness and extravagancies to the succeeding period of the 

 Wars of Religion, with their anarchy and demoralisation. Though this 

 is only partially the case, it may be said broadly that the advanced 

 Renaissance was established under Francis, flourished under Henry, and 

 declined under Henry's sons. 



From the first introduction of classical forms in the fifteenth century, 

 they gradually displaced Gothic ones. In a transitional period of some 

 twenty years, the new mingled with the old in ever increasing proportion, 

 till the latter were virtually eliminated ; in another period of some thirty 

 years, classical forms clothed Gothic structure, and classic ideas began 

 to influence the general design. It was to be expected that this process 

 would eventually be completed by the whole design becoming classic 

 in conception as well as detail. This was the course actually taken 

 by events. The influence of Italy was essential to the initiation of the 

 movement, but it is conceivable that the further development of the 

 French Renaissance might have proceeded unaided to a culmination 

 wholly different from that of Italy. Several causes, however, combined 

 to tighten the bonds between the two countries, and perpetuate the 

 direct influence of Italy in art, as well as in other spheres. A knowledge 

 of Italian became a necessary part of good education. The French 

 language was affected in vocabulary, pronunciation, and spelling by 

 Italian and Latin. In literature, Italian and classical models were 

 imitated. In science and politics, Italian theories were studied and 

 applied. The cause is not far to seek. For sixty years French armies 

 invaded and garrisoned the peninsula, and France was full of returned 

 soldiers familiar with the language, ideas, and customs of Italy. Then, 

 in a country like France, where a majority was opposed to ecclesiastical 

 change, the links with Rome were strengthened. Again, the French 

 kings were also rulers of Italian states, and as such able to command 

 the services of Italians, a facility of which they were not slow to avail 

 themselves. Finally, the Italian element at Court was strengthened by 



