Design for a Confessional
late 18th century
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-332-185
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Design for a Confessional** by Richard de Lalonde offers a fascinating glimpse into late 18-century French ecclesiastical architecture. Active between 1780 and 1796, Lalonde was a French designer whose work coincided with the turbulent years of the French Revolution, time when traditional religious structures faced profound changes. This print captures a proposed design for a confessional—a private booth in Catholic churches used for the sacrament of penance—reflecting the era's blend of ornate functionality and emerging neoclassical restraint. As a print medium, the artwork served a practi...