Which chair is Louis XVI? How can you tell?

Which chair is Louis XVI? How can you tell?

• A. Left: large proportions
• B. Middle: curved legs
• C. Right: straighter lines than Louis XV, more classical references
• D. Center: ornate back with cartouche

Answer: (C)

Louis XVI seats read as Neoclassical, showing straight, architectural lines and restrained classical details rather than the curves of earlier Rococo work. The chair on the right embodies this shift: its lines are straight and orderly, with a more upright, rectangular back and simpler ornament that nods to Greek and Roman motifs. This contrasts with the Rococo-era pieces that emphasize curved cabriole legs, sinuous shapes, and highly decorative backs. So the chair with straighter lines and classical references is the Louis XVI style.

Louis XVI seats read as Neoclassical, showing straight, architectural lines and restrained classical details rather than the curves of earlier Rococo work. The chair on the right embodies this shift: its lines are straight and orderly, with a more upright, rectangular back and simpler ornament that nods to Greek and Roman motifs. This contrasts with the Rococo-era pieces that emphasize curved cabriole legs, sinuous shapes, and highly decorative backs. So the chair with straighter lines and classical references is the Louis XVI style.