Le « genre arabesque » : nature et diffusion des modèles dans le décor intérieur à Paris, 1760-1790

The « arabesque genre » : nature and diffusion of the models in the Parisian interior decor, 1760-1790. Among the main inspiration sources of the neo-classical arabesque decorations — Antiquity, Renaissance, and the ornemanists miscellanies — it is difficult to distinguish the models used by the parisian decorators. Most of the portfolios achieved by the artists during their tour in Italy were dispersed and the publications devoted to Antiquity and Renaissance show but a few decorative patterns. Only some identified ornamental drawings and the collection of prints of Raphael’s loggias enable one to recognize some of the models for the executed decors. As regards the decorative compositions created by the contemporains — prints or decors — one can also notice that they were taken up again by other artists. However, evaluating the diffusion of these models is rather delicate, owing to the few informations concerning the publication dates of the prints and the ownership of the decorative patterns.