The French Renaissance

From Italy, the great intellectual and artistic awakening of the Renaissance spread to the rest of Europe where various countries adapted Renaissance forms a bit at a time by fusing them on to their own existing styles.

By the end of the 16th century, the dominance of Italy would decline with France rising in its place as a center of wealth and style. But for now, France would follow the lead set by Italy.

During this time the French King Francois I was a great patron of the arts who encouraged famous authors, painters, architects, and sculptors and even brought Leonardo da Vinci to France.

In 1533, when she was just 14 years old, the Italian princess, Catherine de' Medici, was married to the future king of France - Henry II. She brought Renaissance influence with her to the French court. Sixty-seven years later in the year 1600, another Italian princess, Marie de' Medici, wed the French king Henri IV. This also carried Renaissance styles from Italy to France, where the monarchs had many palaces that they occupied at various times.

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Maria de 'Medici 1551, By Agnolo Bronzino