Design for Chimney Piece and Wall Decor
19th century
Medium
Graphite and wash
Dimensions
7 7/8 x 12in. (20 x 30.5cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1969
Accession Number
69.660.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of 19th interior design with *Design for Chimney Piece and Wall Decor* by Charles Monblond. This drawing, created in graphite and wash, presents an elegant mantelpiece flanked by ornate candlesticks and adorned with flowing garlands. Measuring just 7 7/8 x 12 inches, it captures the grandeur of period fireplaces, which served as both functional hearths and statement pieces in grand European homes. Monblond's precise graphite lines delineate architectural details, while subtle wash techniques add depth and shadow, mimicking the play of light on polished surfaces. Th...
About the Artist
Charles Monblond · 1800–1900
**Charles Monblond**, a French painter and designer born in Paris, flourished during the mid- to late nineteenth century, capturing the ornate spirit of Second Empire decorative arts through his meticulous drawings and paintings. Residing at 9 Rue Marignan, he studied under M. Ch. Polisch, honing skills that blended floral still lifes with architectural ornamentation. In 1866, Monblond sought perm...