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Louis XVI Drawings

LOUIS XVI STYLE

Reflecting the final era of royal opulence before the upheaval of the French Revolution, antique Louis XVI furniture features more angular shapes than the Rococo curves of the Louis XV style, harkening back to the imposing grandeur of Louis XIV.

Dating between 1750 and 1800, an era that overlapped with the last king of France whose reign was cut short by the guillotine, Louis XVI furniture, known as the goût grec, is emblematic of the neoclassical revision that French furniture underwent during the second half of the 18th century.

Authentic Louis XVI furniture characteristics include clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. This was informed by a burgeoning interest in antiquity in the 18th century, owing to new archaeological excavations at sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum. It largely eclipsed the more East Asian–influenced ornamentation of Louis XV for something more geometric and symmetrical.

The Louis XVI style was defined by what was being created for the palatial rooms at Versailles and Fontainebleau, particularly for the queen, with cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener being a favorite of Marie-Antoinette’s for his luxurious pieces accented with gilded bronze and marquetry. Furniture maker Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené was also a major designer of the period, with his pieces for the royal residences adorned with giltwood and neoclassical touches like tapered columns for chair legs and laurel leaf carvings. Cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler occasionally incorporated into his furniture porcelain panels produced by Sèvres, a popular manufacturer of European ceramics that served the crown with serveware, vases and other decorative objects.

Find a collection of antique Louis XVI seating, tables, cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Louis XVI
18th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Gouache on Paper with Frame and Glass
By Aubusson Manufacture
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall with this colorful, antique Aubusson drawing cartoon. Created in the city of Aubusson, France circa 1780 and set in a carved frame with gilt trim and protected with g...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Drawings

Materials

Giltwood, Paper

18th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Gouache on Paper with Frame and Glass
18th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Gouache on Paper with Frame and Glass

18th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Gouache on Paper with Frame and Glass

19th Century French Aubusson Floral Tapestry Gouache on Paper in Gilt Frame
By Aubusson Manufacture
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a bedroom wall with this colorful, antique Aubusson drawing cartoon. Created in the city of Aubusson, France circa 1820, the simple and elegant gouache on paper is hand pain...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Drawings

Materials

Giltwood, Paper

19th Century French Aubusson Floral Tapestry Gouache on Paper in Gilt Frame
19th Century French Aubusson Floral Tapestry Gouache on Paper in Gilt Frame

19th Century French Aubusson Floral Tapestry Gouache on Paper in Gilt Frame

Portrait of a young woman in an gilt oval frame, pastel drawing, 18th century
Located in NICE, FR
Portrait of a Young Woman, pastel drawing, presented in its original oval frame protected by glass, 18th century Delightful portrait of a young noblewoman in the fashion of the late...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Drawings

Materials

Paste, Paper

Portrait of a young woman in an gilt oval frame, pastel drawing, 18th century
Portrait of a young woman in an gilt oval frame, pastel drawing, 18th century

Portrait of a young woman in an gilt oval frame, pastel drawing, 18th century

19th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Gouache on Paper in Carved Gilt Frame
By Aubusson Manufacture
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a bedroom wall with this colorful, antique Aubusson drawing cartoon. Created in the city of Aubusson, France circa 1820 and set in a carved gilt frame, the simple and elegan...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Drawings

Materials

Giltwood, Paper

19th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Gouache on Paper in Carved Gilt Frame
19th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Gouache on Paper in Carved Gilt Frame

19th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Gouache on Paper in Carved Gilt Frame

18th Century French Aubusson Cartoon Gouache on Paper in Gilt Frame with Glass
By Aubusson Manufacture
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room wall or study with this elegant and colorful, antique Aubusson drawing cartoon. Created in the city of Aubusson, France circa 1760 and is set in a gilt frame, ...
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Drawings

Materials

Giltwood, Paper

18th Century French Aubusson Cartoon Gouache on Paper in Gilt Frame with Glass
18th Century French Aubusson Cartoon Gouache on Paper in Gilt Frame with Glass

18th Century French Aubusson Cartoon Gouache on Paper in Gilt Frame with Glass

Large Framed Etching of Versailles – Vue Particulière de la Chapelle du Château
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Large framed French Etching of Versailles – Vue Particulière de la Chapelle du Château de Versailles Pair available on the Versailles Theme. From Mis en Demeure, Paris.
Category

Late 20th Century French Louis XVI Drawings

Materials

Wood, Paper

Large Framed Etching of Versailles – Vue Particulière de la Chapelle du Château
Large Framed Etching of Versailles – Vue Particulière de la Chapelle du Château

Large Framed Etching of Versailles – Vue Particulière de la Chapelle du Château

Large Framed French Etching of Versailles, Le Bassin d’Encelade
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Large Framed French Etching of Versailles – Le Bassin d’Encelade Pair of Versailles themed prints available. From Mis en Demeure, Paris.
Category

Late 20th Century French Louis XVI Drawings

Materials

Wood, Paper

Large Framed French Etching of Versailles, Le Bassin d’Encelade
Large Framed French Etching of Versailles, Le Bassin d’Encelade

Large Framed French Etching of Versailles, Le Bassin d’Encelade

19th Century "Thoronet Abbey" Watercolor Drawing on Paper from the 18th Century
Located in Marseille, FR
19th century "Thoronet Abbey" watercolor drawing on paper from the 18th century.
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Drawings

Materials

Paper

19th Century "Thoronet Abbey" Watercolor Drawing on Paper from the 18th Century
19th Century "Thoronet Abbey" Watercolor Drawing on Paper from the 18th Century

19th Century "Thoronet Abbey" Watercolor Drawing on Paper from the 18th Century

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Drawing from Louis Roland Trinquesse, France, France, Paris, 1746-1800

Drawing from Louis Roland Trinquesse, France, France, Paris, 1746-1800

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Set of Four French Hand Colored Framed Engravings Bernard Direxit, Circa 1790

Set of Four French Hand Colored Framed Engravings Bernard Direxit, Circa 1790

H 19 in W 16 in D 1.25 in
Pencil Drawing of a Chateau in a Landscape
Located in London, by appointment only
A French school drawing of a chateau and lake. A Louis XVI ink and grey wash view of a French chateau with a lake to the foreground, figures can be seen riding and a group are fis...
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Pencil Drawing of a Chateau in a Landscape
Pencil Drawing of a Chateau in a Landscape

Pencil Drawing of a Chateau in a Landscape

H 20 in W 27 in D 1 in
A Rare French Engraved Map of The Southeastern United States. R.Bonne Circa 1780
By Rigobert Bonne
Located in Charleston, SC
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A Rare French Engraved Map of The Southeastern United States. R.Bonne Circa 1780
A Rare French Engraved Map of The Southeastern United States. R.Bonne Circa 1780

A Rare French Engraved Map of The Southeastern United States. R.Bonne Circa 1780

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Pair Of 18th Century Style Woman Portraits Pastel

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Louis Xvi drawings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Louis XVI drawings for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage drawings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XVI drawings made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original drawings, popular names associated with this style include Aubusson Manufacture, and Jean François Forty. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for drawings differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $431 and tops out at $2,600 while the average work can sell for $1,100.

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