The Baroque period in history came after the Renaissance and was characterized by the use of abundant ornamentation. Baroque style started in Italy at the beginning of the 17th century and lasted until the first decades of the 18th, when it was gradually replaced by the Rococo style. The Baroque artistic movement was initially promoted by the Catholic Church as a response to the Protestant Reformation. The intent of the style was to establish an emotional connection with the viewer. This type of art was meant to be understood by the uneducated masses, as opposed to the cultivated audience targeted during the Renaissance. Unlike architecture and other visual arts of the period, Baroque furniture got its start in France. Designers began to produce elaborate and ornamented pieces for the monarchy, and this fashion was gradually adopted by other courts all over Europe. Some of the pieces produced for the French king Louis XIV became symbols of Baroque furniture and are also known as the Louis XIV style, which is highly demanded by many antiques enthusiasts and collectors.
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