Design for the Decoration of the Saloon, Royal Pavillion, Brighton

About this artwork

(a): Design of a section of south end of the circular room, showing the coved semicircular recess with doors. Window at right. The walls are hung with large panels of Chinese wallpaper of flowers and collaged birds, the base and mouldings are painted, as well as the columns at the entrance to the recess.

Art Historical Context

Frederick Crace’s design captures the opulent spirit of Regency-era Britain, when the Prince Regent (later George IV) transformed Brighton’s Royal Pavilion into a fantastical retreat. Created around 1815, this drawing for the Saloon’s south end reflects the period’s enthusiasm for exotic interiors that blended European architecture with Asian aesthetics. As one of the leading decorators of his day, Crace helped shape the Pavilion’s celebrated chinoiserie style, turning private royal spaces into immersive environments that celebrated cultural exchange. The sheet shows a coved semicircular recess framed by painted columns and mouldings, with a window to the right. Large panels of Chinese wallpaper featuring delicate flowers are enlivened by collaged birds, while the architectural details receive painted embellishment. This combination of imported wallpaper and hand-painted ornamentation highlights the technical ingenuity of early nineteenth-century interior design, where artisans layered textures and colors to create depth and surprise. Today the drawing offers visitors a rare glimpse into the collaborative process behind one of Britain’s most extravagant royal projects. Its presence in the Smithsonian American Art Museum underscores how such designs traveled across the Atlantic, influencing later tastes in decorative arts and preserving the inventive spirit of Crace’s work for new generations.