Design for the painted decoration of a coffered ceiling
second half 19th century
Medium
graphite, watercolor, gouache, and gold paint on tracing paper
Dimensions
sheet: 7 5/16 x 9 7/8 in. (18.5 x 25.1 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Dodge Fund, 1967
Accession Number
67.827.192
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate design for the painted decoration of a coffered ceiling, created by French artists Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise and Eugène-Pierre Gourdet in the second half of the 19th century, offers a glimpse into the opulent interior schemes of the era. Coffered ceilings—recessed panels often found in grand salons, theaters, and public buildings—were a hallmark of Second Empire and eclectic Revival styles, where intricate paintings elevated architectural spaces into artistic spectacles. At just 7 5/16 x 9 7/8 inches, this preparatory drawing captures the meticulous planning behind such lavis...
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...