Elévation d’une Chambre de Lambris, ornée d’un Placard à côté de la Cheminé / Elévation d’un Lambris différent
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-274-34
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This print by F. Cornille, active from 1740 to 1756, presents two architectural elevations of paneled interior rooms. Titled “Elévation d’une Chambre de Lambris, ornée d’un Placard à côté de la Cheminé / Elévation d’un Lambris différent,” it dates to 1740–55 and depicts a French chambre featuring wood paneling with a fireplace-adjacent closet alongside an alternative paneling design. In the mid-18th century, such prints served as practical design resources for architects, woodworkers, and decorators. Lambris (wood paneling) defined elegant French interiors of the era, blending ornate wall treatments with functional features like the cheminée (fireplace) and storage. Cornille’s work captures the period’s focus on harmonious, customized spaces that unified architecture and decoration. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum after purchase by the Advisory Council, this print offers a glimpse into 18th-century decorative arts practices. As a printed work, it helped spread sophisticated European interior styles to craftsmen and patrons, preserving these refined designs for study and inspiration.