Not the First Empire, but the Second.

(Know your Victorians)

“Second Empire Architecture,” is a sub-type of Victorian and refers to French history under the reign of Napoleon III. Bonaparte is acknowledged as the leader of the First Empire, his son was known as “Napoleon II,” but was ineffectual and therefore didn’t have an empire to call his own.

Napoleon III thus inherited the Second Empire. Built from 1855–1885 this type of Victorian is instantly recognizable by a dominant mansard roof often punctuated by dormer windows. Molded cornices are typical along with decorative…