Ceiling Design
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-278-76
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Ceiling Design** by Richard de Lalonde, French artist active from 1780 to 1796, dates to 1785–1788, a pivotal moment in pre-Revolutionary France. This print captures the elegance of late 18th-century decorative arts, likely envisioning ornate ceiling decorations for grand interiors. As a specialist in ornamental designs, Lalonde contributed to the neoclassical style that blended classical motifs with refined French sophistication, popular among the aristocracy during the Louis XVI era. Printed works like this one were essential tools for architects and designers, allowing ideas to be dissem...