Interior Decoration and Style of Living in the Early 19th century

Interior decoration defines all aspects of living, especially the conception and formation of interiors, the design and arrangement of fixtures, and moreover even the way of using room and furniture. The early 19th century has been a period of political and social re-orientation. Frequently it is regarded as being the cradle of our contemporary style of living. After several years of research into the Viennese Court in the 19th century the new points of emphasis will now extend on the living sphere of the nobility. To record and to reveal the conception of important residences therefore shall be the essential task of this research project. Further research statements will be: what is the share that court and aristocracy have in the specific innovations of the interior decoration in the early 19th century, from which social class proceeded the essential impulses to formulate new trends of taste, and how far did they become generally compulsory. Beyond that, the role of the up-coming, financially strong bourgeoisie has to be regarded. It had been less the creations for the civic market but the bourgeois ideals that shaped the exemplary basic trend. Furthermore the question arises for the creator and designer of the personal living sphere. An intensive cooperation between patron, architect, decorator and artisan may be presumed. The point in question is who took the respective essential part. Eventually the using of housing space, respectively living as a process of social life, merits investigations. Inquiries into commonly compulsory principles, standardised furnishings, daily-use and luxury furniture etc. shall give answers in the light of different residences. This research project opens a prominent section of the Austrian history of art and culture that has also been important for the evolution of following styles. Beside the interest for scientific findings concerning the fashions of furnishing in the early 19th century, one may also expect applicable results for issues of restoration and preservation, that become accessible for the science as well as for the interested public audience.