Design for a ceiling

Art Historical Context

This delicate "Design for a Ceiling by French architects Jules-EdmondCharles Lachaise andène-Pierre Gourdet dates to the second half of 19th century, a period when ornate interior decoration flourished in Europe amid the grandeur of Second Empire style and Haussmannian renovations in Paris. Created as a collaborative preparatory drawing, it exemplifies the meticulous planning required for lavish architectural spaces, where ceilings often served as dramatic canvases for motifs blending classical symmetry with emerging eclectic tastes. Executed in graphite, pen and black ink, gouache, and watercolor on paper (8 1/4 x 10 11/16 in.), the work showcases mixed-media techniques typical of 19th-century architectural drafts. Precise ink lines define structural elements, while gouache and watercolor add luminous color and depth, allowing designers to visualize light play and texture on curved surfaces. Such drawings were essential tools for pitching grand projects to wealthy patrons, bridging the gap between concept and execution. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via Dodge Fund, 1967), this piece offers a window into the artistry behind opulent 19th-century interiors, reminding us how architects like Lachaise and Gourdet elevated everyday spaces into theatrical spectacles.

About the Artist

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise|Eugène-Pierre Gourdet · 1897–1897

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise, born Jules Lachaise on September 2, 1836, in Paris, emerged as a prominent French painter and draughtsman specializing in lavish interior decorations during the Second Empire and beyond. Little is known about his early life and formal training, though he married Berthe Gourdet in 1866, forging a close professional partnership with her brother, the decorator Eugène-Pi...