Design for ceramic tile decoration of a bathroom in "Pompeian" manner (possibly for Deepdene, Dorking, Surrey)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite design drawing, created by French artists Jules-EdmondCharles Lachaise andène-Pierre Gourdet in second half of the th century, envisions a lavish bathroom clad in ceramic tiles inspired by the "Pompeian" manner. Rendered in graphite, pen and brown ink, watercolor, and gouache on a sheet measuring 13 7/16 x 19 5/8 inches, it captures intricate patterns of motifs drawn from ancient Roman frescoes unearthed at Pompeii—vines, garlands, and mythical figures evoking opulent antiquity. Likely intended for Deepdene, the grand estate in Dorking, Surrey, owned by collector Henry Thomas Hope, it reflects the Victorian era's fascination with classical revival. The Pompeian style surged in popularity during the 19th century, influencing interiors across Europe as archaeologists' discoveries fueled a craze for authentic-seeming grandeur. Bathrooms, once utilitarian, became showcases for such decorative splendor, blending hygiene with high art. Lachaise and Gourdet's collaborative draft exemplifies ornamental architecture, using layered media to simulate tile textures and vibrant colors, aiding craftsmen in execution. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via the Dodge Fund in 1967), this work highlights how 19th-century designers bridged past and present, transforming everyday spaces into immersive classical fantasies. A testament to the era's eclectic tastes, it invites us to imagine stepping into a Pompeii reborn.

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...