Decoration d'une chamber de parade vüe du côté du Lit, plate 82 in De La Distribution des Maisons de Plaisance, et de la Decoration des Edifices en General

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

This 1738 plate by Jacques-François Blondel illustrates the decoration of a grand state bedroom, viewed from the side of the bed, as part of his two-volume treatise *De La Distribution des Maisons de Plaisance, et de la Decoration des Edifices en General*. The work provided architects and patrons with detailed designs for country houses, emphasizing both practical layouts and luxurious interiors suited to aristocratic leisure. Blondel (1705–1774), a leading French architect, educator, and theorist, used such plates to demonstrate how architecture and decoration could create harmonious, impressive spaces. This example highlights the era’s focus on ornate yet functional interiors, with attention to architectural moldings, furnishings, and spatial arrangement that reflected 18th-century French ideals of elegance and comfort. As an engraving from an influential publication, the plate offers valuable insight into period design practices and remains a key document in the history of interior architecture. It is held in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection of architectural and interior works.