In the artistic field, the Victorian era was characterised by a veritable eclectism in terms of forms and sources of inspiration which were drawn in previous historical periods. This great diversity contrasted with the late century and stems from different social and economical factors related to the Industrial Revolution and to the rise of a new bourgeoisie. Close to the Napoleon III style which developed in France during the same period, it is a composite style, a symbol of luxury and greatness distinguishable by its richness, its variety and its diversity. Traditions of the past mix with current trends such as Romanticism, the Oriental taste or the Aesthetic Movement which preached Art for Art's Sake, celebrated the cult of beauty and impregnated all the artistic fields. A supreme symbol of luxury and elegance, the French taste had also known a great success between 1835 and 1880.
The Victorian style was marked, towards the en of the 19th century, by two new styles : the Arts and Crafts Movement and the Liberty and Co Style. The former developed in Great Britain and then spread accross Europe, in America and in Japan. The artists participated in this trend by advocating the craftman’s work, a simplier way of life and wanted to improve domestic design. The latter is inspired by Japan, China, Persia, India or Egypt. Its name comes from a very fashionable London store of the time. Anglo-Oriental artifacts were displayed along with items from current trends and then Art Nouveau
