Project for a Chinese Pavillion

Art Historical Context

This elegant drawing by Michel Barthelemy Hazon offers a charming glimpse into an imagined Chinese pavilion, its graceful rooflines and decorative details brought to life through pen and with delicate watercolor washes. Created over a ruled graphite underdrawing on laid paper, the work combines technical precision with artistic warmth, allowing the flags atop the structure to appear as if gently moving in the breeze. At roughly 13 by 17 inches, the sheet feels intimate yet fully realized, inviting viewers to step into a fanciful architectural fantasy. Classified among the Metropolitan Museum’s holdings in Drawings and Prints as both ornament and architecture, the piece exemplifies how such studies served as vital tools for designers. They translated ideas into vivid proposals that patrons could easily envision. Hazon’s careful layering of ink and color highlights the pavilion’s exotic motifs while grounding the composition in practical draftsmanship. Acquired by the museum in 2004 as a gift from Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, this work continues to delight visitors with its blend of whimsy and craftsmanship. It reminds us of the enduring appeal of cross-cultural design dreams on paper.