Design for a ceiling

Art Historical Context

"Design for a Ceiling," a collaborative preparatory drawing by French artists Jules-Edmond-Charles Lise and Eugène-Pierredet from the second half of the 19th century, captures the opulent spirit of that era's interior decoration. Created with graphite, gilt, gouache, and on a modest sheet measuring 8 13/16 x 10 9/16 inches, this intricate design likely envisioned an elaborate ceiling for a grand architectural space, such as a Parisian hôtel particulier or public building. The mixed-media technique highlights the artists' mastery: graphite for precise underdrawings, vibrant gouache and watercolor for rich color, and gilt accents evoking luxurious gold leaf in the final execution. In the 19th century, such designs were essential blueprints for Second Empire and eclectic styles, blending classical motifs with emerging historicism amid France's rapid urbanization and cultural flourishing under Napoleon III. Acquired through the Dodge Fund in 1967 and housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work offers a window into the behind-the-scenes artistry of architectural embellishment. It reminds us how sketches like this bridged imagination and reality, adorning Europe's lavish interiors with timeless elegance.

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...