Design for wall decoration in the house of Baron Malet in Jouy-en-Josas (Seine et Gise)

Art Historical Context

Step into the opulent world of 19-century French interiors with this exquisite *Design for Wall Decoration in the House of Malet in Jouy-en-Josas (Seine-et-Oise)*, created in 1871 by the collaborative talents of Jules-Edmond-Charles Lise and Eugène-Pierredet. This preparatory drawing captures the grandeur envisioned for the residence of Baron Malet, prominent figure, in the picturesque village near Paris. Amid the turbulent shift to France's Third Republic following the Franco-Prussian War, such designs reflected the enduring taste for lavish domestic architecture among the elite, blending functionality with aesthetic splendor. Rendered on laid paper in a masterful mix of watercolor, gouache, gold paint, and pen and ink, the work showcases the artists' precision and versatility. The luminous gold accents evoke luxury and light, mimicking metallic wall treatments, while the fine pen lines and vibrant washes allow for detailed architectural motifs—likely ornate panels, friezes, or neoclassical elements suited to a baron's home. Measuring 14 15/16 x 10 13/16 inches, its compact scale belies its ambitious scope, serving as a blueprint for transforming spaces into harmonious ensembles. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via the Dodge Fund in 1967), this piece highlights the artistry of architectural drafting in Second Empire-era France. It offers a window into how decorators like Lachaise and Gourdet bridged engineering and embellishment, preserving the cultural legacy of aristocratic refinement for modern admirers.

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...