Design for the decoration of a ceiling with circular medallions

Art Historical Context

Step into the opulent world of 19-century French interior design with exquisite preparatory drawing, * for the Decoration of a Ceiling with Circular Medall*, created collaboratively by Jules-EdmondCharles Lachaise andène-Pierre Gourdet between1830 and 1897. Rendered on paper and mounted on wove for preservation, work showcases a precise layout elegant circular medallions— intended for a grand architectural ceiling. These motifs, common in the era's lavish homes and public spaces, evoke the neoclassical revival and romantic flourish of the July Monarchy and beyond, where ornate ceilings symbolized wealth and cultural refinement. The artists employed graphite for fine lines and subtle shading, enhanced by watercolor washes that bring subtle color and depth to the composition. Measuring just 6 x 7 inches in its image area, this intimate drawing from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department highlights the meticulous planning behind monumental decorations. Such studies were essential tools for architects and decorators, bridging imagination and execution in an age of rapid urbanization and Beaux-Arts influence. Acquired through the Dodge Fund in 1967, this piece offers a window into the collaborative craft of French ornamental design, reminding us how everyday sketches paved the way for breathtaking interiors that still inspire today.

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...