Style In Furniture
of that age from the work of his confreres on the other side of the Channel than he actually took ; but we may, at all events, argue that, however much he failed at that time to take advantage of his opportunities in that direction, he made up for his sin of omission during the succeeding century.
Though the earlier English styles did not owe so heavy a debt to the French as we might have expected, much furniture was imported from France for the court of this country, in order to add greater magnificence to the surroundings of royalty. It could hardly have been otherwise, for it was natural that the daughter of Henry the Fourth of France should desire to have around her as many tangible souvenirs of her native land as possible; added to which,
- Showing Flemish influence strongly the lengthy SOjoum of James marked) the Second in that country
- See page 56 for reference) WOUld inevitably influence his tastes in the same direction. Moreover, it is not to be imagined that a sovereign of Charles the Second's disposition would be content with our national predilection for sombre oak and subdued tapestry when he had all the brilliant wealth of the Italian Renaissance, the " François-Premier," " Henri-Deux/' and " Louis-Treize " to draw upon.
Amongst the French furniture brought over here, par-
Late "Jacobean" Chair
Reference in Text. See pages 55, 66
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