May 5, 2021 - French Institute, Florence, Italy.
The period of the First Empire was one of creation, support for the arts and crafts and technical innovation. Developing industry in the face of English competition, magnifying know-how and spreading the Empire's new taste helped to unify the conquered territories and define a sense of belonging. Engineers, craftsmen and factories were the object of particular attention from Napoleon and his family. The major orders from the Emperor's household, as well as the Exhibitions of the products of French industry, defined the latest trends and directed fashion well beyond the French capital.
