This volume investigates the evolution of interior design and domestic furnishings from the Renaissance through the early twentieth century. Mario Praz, a renowned scholar of literature and art, utilizes a vast collection of visual evidence and historical documentation to trace the shifting aesthetics of living spaces. The work argues that the arrangement and style of furniture serve as a primary record of cultural values and social hierarchies across European history.

The text is regarded as a foundational reference for students of design history due to its comprehensive visual scope and scholarly rigor. Its dense, academic approach provides a specialized look at the intersection of material culture and historical domestic life.